CLUNETTE — Like a typical teenager, Evan McKinley goes to high school, hangs out with his friends and does his homework. However, he is doing a bit of his own homework after school for a different reason: he is running for an elected position.

McKinley is running for an at-large county council seat this year at the age of 17. A student at Warsaw Community High School, McKinley is like most teenagers his age, except for a passion to be a part of the local political scene.
Born in Warsaw, he was raised in Clunette, where he still lives with his father and younger brother, Aston, who is 9.
McKinley has spent his whole academic career in the Warsaw school system. He attended Leesburg Elementary School, Edgewood Middle School and now goes to WCHS.

“My time in our school district has been very beneficial, and I consider our schools some of the best in the state,” he said. “I’ve played football since my sixth-grade year and have a huge passion for sports.”

He played football for three years, playing on the junior varsity team. He also enjoys basketball.

“I called Warsaw basketball games on WIOE during my freshman year,” he said. “Also, during my freshman year, I wrote football analysis articles for two sports websites.”

McKinley has taken several business classes at WCHS, too. The classes are beneficial as he helps his father with his painting and drywall business. His mother, Michelle, is the co-owner of a bail bonds business.

He said he has aspirations of becoming a general manager of a football team some day. With more than a year left of high school, he has plenty to keep him busy. However, McKinley has had some obstacles to overcome.

“Five years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and I have battled it every single day since,” he said.

McKinley will be on the ballot for the primary election in May and the general election in November. By the time of the general election, McKinley will be 18. Under Indiana law, he can vote and run for office, he said.

McKinley knows it might be very unusual for a teenager his age to choose to run for an elected office. However, McKinley, who turns 18 Aug. 19, is doing more than just his high school homework. He has attended most of the monthly county council meetings since 2014.

“For the past year and a half, I’ve attended the county council meetings, sifted through the meeting minutes, sought every possible way to educate myself on the ins and outs of the council. I’ve been feverishly reading and learning a great deal about our county government, so that I can be the very best representative of our citizens,” said McKinley.

He has also served on campaign teams that elected State Rep. Curt Nisly and Kosciusko Superior Court Judge Torrey Bauer.

His father, Jack, serves as his campaign public relations director. A Republican, McKinley said after researching different county offices, he felt the fiscal branch of county government, the county council, suited him best.
McKinley describes himself as fiscally responsible with conservative values.

“I like this type of work,” he smiled. “I feel like I can make a difference and better our community.”

(This story originally appeared in the Feb. 10 edition of ‘the PAPER’)