OK, silly headline, but ever since I met Kenton Ngo I always wanted to write it. :) Seriously, though, congratulations to Kenton for this great article. I particularly love the story of how Kenton and Ben Tribbett first met:
Tribbett said he has been impressed with Ngo since their very first conversation in 2005.At the time, Tribbett was calling members of the Fairfax Democratic committee to see if they would support him in a bid for the 41st District seat in the House of Delegates.
"Almost everyone knew me so I was having very, very short conversations. I wasn't talking to anyone for more than five minutes," said Tribbett.
But when Tribbett called Ngo, who he did not know at the time, the teen started asking very detailed questions about his views on specific bills working their way through the General Assembly. He also kept Tribbett on the phone for 45 minutes.
"Kenton started haranguing me on every issue. He would ask questions like 'How do you feel about bill 686?'" said Tribbet, who had to look up legislation on the computer to keep up with Ngo.
When Tribbett finally asked Ngo for his support, he responded, "Actually, I can't vote. I'm 14."
Tribbett, who had been active in county politics as teen himself, said he was surprised to hear Ngo's age.
"He asks much better questions than people who have been active in the Democratic Party a lot longer," said Tribbett.
Kenton managed to stump Ben Tribbett, who I call a walking encyclopedia of Virginia politics? Awesome, and why I say..."Go Ngo!" :)
Then I always talk about Ngo, and send them the link to his blog :)
A question to Ngo and Tribbett. What information did you have in your lives that made it possible for you to get involved in politics at an early age? Did you have any mentors?
I have small children, and my daughter shows some incipient interest in politics. If she does pursue this, I would like to support her on it they way people must have supporter you guys when you first began.
The information will be useful not only to me but to everyone. Our society can do a lot if we have more Ngos and young Tribbetts getting involved in civic life from a young age :)
peace
We have been very lucky to have him as part of the Springfield Committee.
Mark Itzkoff