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Course work and constituents

By April Beane

On the first and third Monday of every month, Tyler Martell trades his Hollister hoodie for a Marquette tie and a suit. His professor calls him El Famoso (or the famous), and his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers want to be his Secret Service team.

Martell is not your average political science junior. In addition to his professors, this 20-year-old has constituents to answer to as well. He is the youngest alderman on the Manitowoc (Wis.) Common Council.

Martell came into the alderman race as a seasoned campaigner — having run in his first election at age 18.

“I ran for City Council when I was 18 and came in third out of four people,” Martell says. “I did well. I got 85 votes. That’s more than me, my mom and my dad voting — some people liked me.”

Those earlier experiences helped him learn what worked and what didn’t on the campaign trail.

“In local politics, it’s all about talking to your friends and neighbors, getting them to vote, and getting them to help your cause,” he says. “It’s about who works harder.”

And work harder he did — winning the Manitowoc District 5 election in April 2012.

“When I won, I think that is the proudest my dad has ever been in his life,” Martell says.

Martell was nervous attending his first meeting.

“When do I talk? How do I refer to people? It was a little intimidating walking in there at first, but walking out I knew if I am going to get anything done, I can’t be afraid to roll with the big dogs,” Martell says.

Seven meetings later, Martell was a member of four committees, and he isn’t shy about bringing a young person’s perspective to the issues.

“Everyone’s always talking about what they are doing for my generation. Isn’t it time that my generation has a say in it?” Martell asks.

His friends are having fun with Martell’s new title.

“They are calling me Mr. Alderman, which is weird,” says Martell.

His friends think it’s cool, too.

“I was just talking to my friends before this about my meeting last night and they said, ‘Wow! You’re doing actual things. You have a grown-up job.’ It’s kind of funny because I still think of myself as a college student,” Martell says.

If the whole politician thing doesn’t work out — he, of course, has a plan.

“If I don’t go anywhere in politics, I want to be an analyst,” Martell says. “Just crunching numbers and looking at maps and demographics and stuff like that.”

He also has his sights set on another passion.

“I want to be the commentator for Marquette’s Quidditch team,” Martell says.