Most college students work part-time or summer jobs while pursuing their degrees. Not Hunter Koch.
A 20-year-old political science major at SVSU, Koch has served on the St. Charles Board of Education for the last two years and is now seeking election as county commissioner in Saginaw County’s 6th District.
“I’ve always been interested in politics,” Koch said. “I got elected when I was 18 to the St. Charles Board of Education. It was a good first experience, because it was an unopposed campaign, but I still ran a minor campaign.”
Koch is both a first-generation politician and college student. While Koch’s family doesn’t have a history of holding public office, he said his parents were highly supportive of his Board of Education run, as well as in his current campaign for county commissioner.
If taking on the role of politician is difficult for Koch, it doesn’t show. He comes across as clean cut, approachable and intellectually sharp. His warm personality makes it easy for him to connect with those around him, strangers and friends alike.
Koch is ambitious for someone his age. Most public offices have legally defined age requirements, and Saginaw County commissioner is one of the highest offices that someone under 21 can hold.
“I shoot high,” he said. “My goal is to be president some day. I’d like to stay in the state as much as I can, though. I’m really interested in state government because state government is what affects people the most.”
Koch’s current experience with the Board of Education has shown him how important it is for local officials to be accessible to their constituents.
“My experience with that office has really been great,” Koch said. “I’ve been able to give back to the community a lot. When I walk through the hallways of school I get to talk to people, administrators, teachers and support staff alike, who come up and say, ‘I’m glad that you’re actually here.’”
To Koch, involvement in county-level politics is critical to getting things done. While most people are focused only on the current presidential campaign, Koch has seen firsthand how local government works. He makes a convincing argument for how local government directly impacts the lives of everyday citizens.
“When you vote for county commissioner, you’re voting for someone that can give money to Mosquito Control so they can spray by your house that night,” Koch said. “You’re voting for the person who can give the sherriff that money so if you have an emergency, you have a deputy coming to your house to help at the local level. These people have the most power to get things done that actually influence your daily life.”
As his campaign begins to start in earnest, Koch is focused on putting together his campaign team and setting up a series of fundraisers. Raising enough funds will be critical, as Koch recently learned that he will be facing an unexpected primary challenger, Dave Adams.
“Whatever the result of the primary election is, I hope that he would support me just as much as I would support him,” Koch said. “He’s definitely a good guy and an upstanding gentleman.”
Koch has already worked with the political science department at SVSU to put out a call for student interns, in addition to appeals on Facebook.
“I want my campaign to be run with SVSU students,” he said. “I would welcome support from anybody, but my focus is on trying to give as many opportunities as I can to SVSU students so they can get that valuable experience for the future.”
