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Who is that kid?

American Press - By: Elona Weston
March 2, 2008

That has to be the question that almost every veteran legislator and government employee in the state Capitol is asking these days.

A few lawmakers are in their 20s. One or two look like someone's kid brother in a suit. They probably are.

A Democratic representative from New Orleans' District 95 was elected last fall at the age of 23 and reportedly, is the second youngest person to ever serve in the House.   At 23, shouldn't he be on spring break this time of year? Getting the hang of balancing his own budget and paying bills? Getting a tattoo?

There's a time and place for everything — a time to live, experience, learn and serve.

But that New Orleans Rep. Walker Hines, now 24, thinks it's as good of a time as any for him to enter politics.

Hines graduated from the University of Michigan just last year. "Being young, I have the energy. I'm not married. I don't have children. I don't have those family responsibilities right now that many of my fellow colleagues do have," he told the American Press.

Hines has been criticized by some for his youth, and praised by others.

He has already taken some licks. He was ragged pretty harshly by some lawmakers on the House floor when he attempted to scrap lobbyists' wining and dining.

When one lawmaker mentioned Hines' father, a well known New Orleans attorney, House Speaker, Rep. Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, had to ask lawmakers not to get personal and to take Hines' legislative debate seriously.

The American Press talked to Hines about why he wanted to enter public service at such a early age and what he has to offer. This is what he said:

Elona Weston, American Press: Why would you want to serve?

State Rep. Walker Hines:  So many friends of mine, a lot of young professionals, have left the city (New Orleans) and the state. I'm from New Orleans, right in the center of uptown New Orleans. I represent all of the universities, Tulane, Loyola, Xavier — bits and pieces of them, but the majority.

One of the things I wanted to do is reverse the exodus of young people leaving Louisiana for better economic opportunities elsewhere.

What can you do here?

I had a calling at a young age to serve in some capacity. I didn't have it planned. I didn't know it would happen this young. ...

My job is to not become part of the old school, status quo politics of our past. My job is to come up here and challenge the conventional boundaries that the Legislature and other bodies of government have pursued.

Have you heard any negative comments? How do you think you are perceived by other lawmakers?

I get very strong vibes. I read people very well. Initially, they are totally just fascinated by me being so young and they want to know if I was opposed, was it my dad's seat? What's the story behind it? The answer is "no." I ran against eight others.

I think most don't see me in that 23-year-old light because they have yet to see me hang out in with anyone in a social circumstance with people my age.

I think my colleagues are starting to see that I am pretty serious and for some people, that's threatening. Some people don't like that I've come up here and challenged the culture of the Legislature. To some degree, I haven't done that yet, but through conversation, proposed legislation and potential legislation, I am looking at changing the way business has been done.

How has your public service changed your everyday life?

The biggest challenge for me right now is to be a 24-year-old. My responsibilities are different now. I don't have much of a social life right now, I admit.

Do you think you'll be successful in Baton Rouge?

Many young people, believe it or not, did not vote for me. They just couldn't appreciate that someone as young as me could ever win an office.

Age is not at all a prerequisite to success. It's truly about attitude. You have to have that positive, go-getter attitude to accomplish what you need to.