David Mann isn’t a typical college kid. When he’s not in class, he is reading, keeping up on the latest local and national news or attending ministerial association meetings on the campus of Andrews University.

And, oh yeah, he’s running for city council.

Mann, 20, is all but certain to represent Niles’ 3rd Ward come 2012, as he is the only candidate to have filed.

He may not even be old enough to legally drink, but don’t let the boyish face and peach fuzz fool you. Mann, a theology student at Andrews University, says he will take his responsibilities very seriously and seems to already have mastered political speak.

“The main concern is making sure what the taxpayers are paying is going toward projects that are useful,” he said. “I know we are facing quite steep budget cuts right now.”

Mann said he would also like to see job creation and the community revitalized.

Born and raised in Niles and a homeschool graduate, Mann said he has been interested in local government “since I knew it existed.”

“Local government usually has the greatest impact on citizens’ lives,” he said.

Mann collected the necessary signatures to get his name on the ballot himself and estimated he stopped at more than 100 houses in the community.

“The most common question I got was ‘how old are you?'” Mann said.

But most of the people he talked to were positive about his candidacy.

“They were glad to see someone my age getting involved in politics,” he said.

Mann doesn’t anticipate any problems with having his ideas and opinions heard due to his age.

“But I do understand I have a lot to learn,” he said. “I hope to gain from this experience a better understanding of local government, what works and what doesn’t.”

When Mann first announced his candidacy, he said his friends were surprised but supportive. His parents were also behind him but thought it was a “long shot” for a college student to be elected.

But barring a write-in candidate upset, it now appears Mann is the man for the job.

For more information on Mann or to ask him questions, visit his Facebook page, “David Mann for City Council.”