Q & A with Samantha Perlman, City Councilor and Mayoral Candidate

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JWA: Speaking of inclusivity, one of the other things I was really struck by with your campaign is Youth for Sam, which is a branch of campaign that just focuses on engaging and teaching young folks and integrating them into the campaign. What inspired you to create that? What has been your favorite part of running that program?

SP: Youth for Sam is a rock-star organization. It really started from the fact that I wanted young people to be involved in the campaign when I was running [for city councilor] at age 23. I wanted to increase voter turnout among young voters. I also did a lot of work professionally on youth voter engagement at the national level and student voting and barriers to voting. Oftentimes it's that people are not asking for youth to go vote. They're not asking them the issues that they care about. They're not trying to reach out or really understand.

When people say, “Oh, young people don't care,” that’s a misconception. Young people care so much about a variety of issues, whether it's reproductive justice or stopping global warming. But oftentimes we don't see government as an avenue to pursue change, because we've been socialized not to think about it. The current media structure doesn't allow for positive government stories being at the forefront. With Youth for Sam, it is really about how young people in our community can be drivers of change.

As part of the program, we've had everything from a podcast called Youth Voice Matters to canvassings and trainings. We do a “Summer in the ‘Boro,” which is a program over the summer with different events. These have been a great way to see everyone come together, and it's been so meaningful for me, because I wish I'd had this when I was growing up. Having a program like Youth for Sam might have even changed my involvement in politics and made it earlier. A lot of Youth for Sam members have gone on to run for student government in college or work on other campaigns and really stay invested in the political sphere.

I never had younger siblings, but now I feel like I'm an older sibling in this program. It’s like a family, and a nice way to stay connected. The campaign is strongest because of them and their work and they have equal footing. We have campaign discussions and I value their viewpoint on so many different issues.

JWA: Another exciting part of supporting all these young folks—mostly students—is that you are also a student now, as you're attending law school. What has it been like balancing a full course load with your city councilor duties and running for mayor? How has that shifted your perspective on running, if at all?

SP: The one thing you can never get back is time, so I'm trying to maximize my time. I try not to think about how much it is at once. I’ve always wanted to go to law school, so several years ago, I took the LSAT and sat on it because I wanted to run for office and make an impact right then. Often education can feel like you're removed from [the] community. But now I have an opportunity to do both. Law school has allowed me to have a creative space to be around like-minded peers, professors, and a community where I’m exposed to a new network of people and ideas that is really valuable.

But it is a lot of balance. I had to say, “I can't do everything. Maybe I'm having a different type of law school experience.” I have to kind of take the good and the bad, but ultimately, people at the law school have been very supportive, and I think it's made me a better city councilor and will make me a better mayor. It’s this mindset towards endless knowledge and growth that I think speaks back to your question about Jewish values, because knowledge and education are also Jewish values. So I’m living that out in real time.

JWA:  My last question is, what advice do you have for young readers who might run for office?

SP: Totally contact me. I do so many one-on-ones with people who want to run for office. I think it's really important for me to share my experience and say, “Hey, it worked out for me.”

Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something or that you're not qualified or you're too young, or you're not X, Y, or Z. There is nothing more powerful than a dedicated person who’s really motivated and passionate about an issue or a cause or a goal and is willing to put the time and effort behind it. So many people are all talk—they may have a vision, but they can never execute. And so many people just want to be behind the scenes and do something, but they don't have that vision. So if you have the clarity to have both, the vision and the dedication to get it done, you really are unstoppable. Regardless of any other factors, you can really achieve that goal.

And I would also say, take every stage of your life for what it is and reach out to people, ask questions, learn, expose yourself to different types of learning. I did so many fellowship programs and leadership roles when I graduated. Especially when you’re 22 to 30, there is such a critical period—I’m still in it—of having a sense of self and clarity of purpose that I think people lose out on. You should invest in meeting more people and putting yourself out there. It’ll be very worthwhile.

You can learn more about Samantha's campaign here.