Dude, this guy is Awesome.

Like many Republicans, I'm a baby boomer, hopelessly uncool with my 401k, beige minivan and inability to text.  The last time I watched MTV Michael Jackson was black and Dire Straits was popular.

I'm sure the Republicans are trying to appeal to Gen X, Y, Tweeners, or what ever we call the kids these days.  But we are way behind.  The Democrats, however, like totally rock with the kids. 

Take Ed Hermes.  Here he is in the Republic.

A 24-year-old Chandler Democrat wants to become the youngest person in history to win a seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

Here he is in "the Dirty".

Allow me to introduce you to Ed Hermes. When I was a freshman at ASU I took an introductory course to poli sci and this strappin young lad was my student teacher. Who could forget his spiked out black hair… A few months ago I was watching Room Raiders and Mr Hermes was one of the lucky contestants to get his room raided (dirty!!) and now, as I’m driving around town I find out he’s running for county supervisor, lol…. There should be a rule somewhere that if you are on Room Raiders you’re not allowed to run for office, of ANY kind.

Here's a little more about "Room Raiders."

This season, find out what's in the closets of Arizona when Room Raiders heads to the Grand Canyon state. Room Raiders, the show about raiding closets and breaking hearts. This afternoon game show will let contestants decide who to date, based solely on the contents of their bedroom. Watch as one person is sent on a search mission in the bedrooms of three unsuspecting strangers who have no idea that someone will be searching through their things. Without a word of warning, armed with the right tools for the ultimate search (rubber gloves and tweezers, naturally) our searchers are raiding the rooms of three unsuspecting people who will have no time to prepare for the break-in.

(The picture on the right is from Room Raiders, but I don't think it's actually Ed, that jacket in the campaign shot looks like a 40 regular to me and Amber's bra couldn't be more than a 34.)

Like I said, Republicans are hopelessly out of touch.  Fulton Brock is like 56... married 25 years and has three daughters.  I bet he couldn't find MTV even if he had TIVO. 

Ed, on the other hand is so hip, living with his parents in Chandler, appearing on panty raid reality shows with his "spiked out black hair"...and asking voters to put him in charge of a county of nearly 4 million people. 

Dude, that would be such a cool job. 

Comments

[Nick S.]

And that's why Obama will win. He's much cooler than McCain. McCain may know how many states there are, what committee's he serves on and how many "presidents" are on the dollar bill, but Obama can hit a 3 point shot. Awesome!

[Brian D.]

Wow! This Ed guy IS really neat!

He is like in "The Dirty" and was on an MTV show. I doubt Fulton would even dare try to match that.

I'll bet he even uses hair gel and body spray.

[ron]

Dude, everybody was 24 once and starting off on a new career.

I wish him every success in his endeavors.

[Bob]

Looking up Ed Hermes in east valley news doesn't make me too optimistic about Fulton Brock this November.

http://www.politickeraz.com/evanbrown/1521/maricopa-county-board-getting-flak-two-sides

I'm not sure what message an incumbent republican will be able to sell when the democratic challenger has taken up the position of fiscal responsibility and accountability.

[ron]

Mr. Kunasek also has some competition.

Unfortunately at least two of the Supervisors get a pass this election.

Never good in a democracy when we let people run without some form accountability.

[Nancy]

A serious county deserves serious candidates. I'm sure Ed's a nice guy, but he spend a few years doing something worthwhile before being in a position to dictate the laws to a few hundred thousand people.

[ron]

Nancy,

Ever been to a BOS meeting?

Serious?

Only in the last few months since people have started to 'sit and observe' has the BOS been taking itself seriously.

As I noted previously, some of the current members also know that voters will have an option this November. This may also account for the current upsurge in 'seriousness'.

If the 'anti-incumbency' surge gets any more traction, a lot of people who are running may wake up surprised on November 5 and find out they have new elected.

[atticus]

Nancy,

He sat on the Board of Regents, worked at the Arizona Department of Agriculture, advises the Governor on issues of growth and is a teacher. I'd say that is pretty serious.

[Travis]

Two weeks ago I recieved a phone bank call for Ed touting that he was endorsed by Janet Napolitano. I'm a hard R and this is the primary. Is this how the boy wonder plans on doing his county supervisor job?

Unfortunately, in LD 17, they have been electing stupid young guys for the past couple of years. Anyone who doesn't want another hard working Republican to lose his seat to a twenty-something dolt, should get out there and work for Brock.

[Alex P. Keaton]

My two favorite sites coming together, Espresso and The Dirty - it was only a matter of time!

[Sunset Sally]

"Unfortunately, in LD 17, they have been electing stupid young guys for the past couple of years. Anyone who doesn't want another hard working Republican to lose his seat to a twenty-something dolt, should get out there and work for Brock."

LOL. I just love when people talk like this. Mark my words, Ed may or may not win, but the GOP is getting trounced again this year and it has nothing to do with age my friend. You can be 45 or 65 and have lots of fresh new ideas and be about change.

The voters are crying out for things to change, how much louder do they have to yell?

And yet, your argument is please, let the people who have failed us for 15 years keep running things because they are "Experienced" ?

Stupid stupid stupid.

I bet you if Greg ran again, he wouldn't be running on , I'm was a state legislator, and I am so great and vote for me because I was a state Legislator, but RATHER he would run on I've done this this and this and I think THIS needs to change and I really want THIS to happen right now for us, for our kids and our state. He would give a vision, not an resume and a lame excuse.

So if Ed wins it is because Fulton sat on his behind and recited his years in office instead of a reason.

[ron]

Sally - I think you have hit the nail on the head - more of the same won't play in '08.

This is not a 'stay the course' year.

[Nancy]

Ron and atticut,

He "advised" the governor on growth, like the $2 BILLION budget deficit and the explosion in state government spending that created this mess?
He was a teacher. The unions say we are one of the worst states in public education. Is he part of the reason?

I do hope the poor boy can do better than that.

Give him a few years. Let move out of his parents house and learn what its like to pay his own rent and balance his own checkbook.

Sorry but wisdom counts for something. And you cannot attain wisdom by appearing on an MTV reality show.

[SeekTruth]

I've known Ed Hermes for a number of years, during his tenure at the Board of Regents as a Student Regent and while he was still a student at ASU. Ed is a great individual, very intelligent, with a fresh spirit and outlook. This MTV jab is kind of silly. I'm sure if you pull up the episode, you'll find nothing out of the ordinary.

Ed is fully capable of running for the Board of Supervisors, and he'll do a fantastic job.

[Joe G.]

Just got back from vacation with my wife's family in the midwest. There's a guy running for the county commissioner back there who has a trail of unpaid debts and four arrests for non-payment of child support. Also had a radio ad using the voice of his daughter (the subject of the child support) saying that her daddy takes good care of her and that the voters should let him take care of them too.

Seemed to me that this particular candidate is almost asking to be publicly crucified for his audacity.

I'm not saying Ed Hermes is the equivalent, but anyone who has appeared on Room Raiders but seeking serious public office has some explaining to do. That's the type of attack ad that almost writes itself.

[ron]

This guy is running against Fulton Brock who tapes meetings without telling people and when discovered offers a weak, "I apologize".

Some people self-destruct....

[Craig]

"Unfortunately, in LD 17, they have been electing stupid young guys for the past couple of years."

Ron - While I'm certain Congressman Harry Mitchell appreciates the "young" compliment, I'm not so sure that State Senator Meg Burton-Cahill will appreciate being called a 'guy.'

As for 'stupid', that's an insult that Repubicans shouldn't throw around so long as George Bush is in the White House.

P.S. - I know Ed (and I'm significantly older than he is) - he's smart, energetic, and doesn't view the job of County Supervisor as his by right.

Unlike the current occupant of the SD1 slot.