Eric Smith Eric Smith, the youngest candidate running for a seat on Simi Valley Unified School District's board of education, has plenty of moral support in his first political campaign.

The 18yearold has been getting feedback from his father, Gerald Smith, who's running for one of two Simi Valley City Council seats in the Nov. 4 election.

"It's been nice," Eric Smith said. "When my dad has an idea, he runs it by me and asks me what I think of it, and I do the same for him."

A resident of Simi Valley for about three and a half years, Smith graduated from Valencia High School in the spring and attends classes at Moorpark College. He works at the Hollister Co. store in Simi Valley Town Center mall.

Running on a platform of student volunteerism and fiscal responsibility, Smith stressed the importance of peer counseling and cost-efficient programs for Simi Valley students.

The candidate wants all middle and high school students to participate in five hours of community service each semester.

"It's not a whole lot of time, but it would make a big impact for the city," he said. "It would impact the students in a positive way as long as they have a positive attitude."

Smith said he thinks that volunteer work could also help students discover possible career paths after graduation, and a good service experience might alleviate some students' behavioral problems.

Smith is also concerned about how Simi Valley schools prepare students for the work force.

He said the school district isn't doing enough for young people who choose to work instead of attend college.

With the state budget still not passed, the amount schools will receive remains a question mark. Smith said he wants the school district to build a larger emergency capital reserve for when the next budget crisis threatens California schools. He doesn't want more cuts made but said he wouldn't oppose scaling back certain programs in order to ensure there are adequate resources for the future.

While safety isn't one of his major concerns, Smith would like to expand the use of peer counseling as an inexpensive method for student rehabilitation. As a first resort, he wants students to work together to solve problems.

Smith's campaign for the school board has been run entirely by word-of-mouth.

As a college student, he can't afford to run an expensive campaign, and he doesn't feel comfortable asking residents for monetary donations when he campaigns the oldfashioned way, knocking on residents' doors and asking for their votes. He said both his father and his AP government teacher, Greg Hayes, inspired him to run.

"I think I have a unique perspective on this school district," Smith said. "I'm new to the city; I'm not entrenched with any battles with any schools, administrators or officials, and I think I have a lot of great ideas. . . . A lot of good has been done with the current board and that should be recognized. But a little bit of change now and again—and establishing new policies— couldn't hurt."