SHARPSBURG, Pa. — Roman Mason, 17, of Sharpsburg, can’t even technically vote in a municipal election, but he’s not letting that stop him from serving his community in a big way. Fox Chapel’s senior class president is now the newest member of Sharpsburg Council, recently sworn in for a one-year term as a junior councilman.
“We just try to change it and make things better,” Mason said. “So I went to the meeting and jumped right in.”
He hit the ground running right out of the gate, lobbying for changes at Kennedy Park so more people can use this community resource.
He’s certainly not stopping anytime soon. Mason’s role as a liaison between his peers and borough officials is designed to encourage open dialogue between young people and decision-makers.
“The lights get turned off when it gets darker. You can’t continue to work out and play basketball and have fun. So I said, ‘Can we keep the lights on?’ So that was the biggest change we started,” Mason said.
“I take it upon myself to ask my friends, ‘What do you want to see changed?’ I take the feedback they give me and take it to the higher-ups,” Mason said.
“I’m so proud of Roman. He’s going miles ahead of anybody. He’s gotta just keep going for what he’s going for,” said Jacob Martin, Mason’s friend.
Mason said he’s determined to make Sharpsburg shine — one bright idea at a time — no matter what the future holds.
Mason said he’d possibly like to be a senator or governor, adding, “Who knows what my future is.”
It won’t be all work and no play for Mason: He plans to enjoy this summer with his friends before the start of his senior year, but he does encourage others his age to get involved.
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