Joseph Edgecomb / The Collegian

Many college students are getting involved with the upcoming election, but one Fresno State student is taking it a step further and actually running.

Humberto Avila, a 21-year-old senior biology major, is on the November ballot for Assembly 29.

“This is a conservative area and I was disappointed that were so many republicans running unopposed,â€Â Avila said.

He said he has always been interested in politics, but since 9/11, he has stepped up his involvement.

“Some of my high school friends and college friends are going off to war soon and that really affected me,â€Â Avila said.

Avila is running against Rep. Mike Villines, a favorite for the 29th district assembly, which consists of Madera, Clovis, and North East Fresno, including the Fresno State campus.

“I’m the underdog,â€Â Avila said. “But I think it is going to be a lot closer than people expect.â€Â

Avila will graduate from Fresno State this Spring and has plans to attend med school. He said if he does win, he will put his dreams on hold to serve the two-year term.

“I want to be a physician, but [the position] is very important, especially right now.â€Â Avila said.

He started the nomination process back in March, collecting 40 democratic signatures, paying a fee and filling out all the required paperwork. After winning the primary election in June, Avila was officially on the November ballot.

Joseph Edgecomb / The Collegian

“Luckily, I won the unopposed primary,â€Â Avila said.

Despite his age, Avila said he is prepared to take the position if he wins.

“I have a lot to learn,â€Â Avila said. “But I look at it as a business. I’ll have to adjust and learn the position, but I’m ready to do that.â€Â

Avila̢۪s campaign manager is another Fresno State student, history major Jason Carns. They met through Democratic events on campus last semester. Carns said he believed in Avila̢۪s position and wanted to help.

“I was impressed with how young he is and how much he knows,â€Â Carns said. “He’s smarter than a lot of 40 or 50 year-olds, so I don’t think his age is an issue.â€Â

For his campaign, Avila said he is focusing on education and budget reform.

He said he would like to see more local congressional funding for school districts. This would give school districts the choice of how to spend money they receive, rather than it being delegated by the state.

On the college level, Avila said he wants to see student fees lowered.

“Tuition has nearly doubled in the last six years,â€Â Avila said. “It’s like taxing students.â€Â

Avila said he would like to see an increase on taxes for service industries, such as lawyers and accountants, and sales tax lowered.

“Lower sales tax is going to bring business back over to the state that have been lost,â€Â Avila said. “I’d rather go after the lawyers and accountants than the working class and students.â€Â

He is also focused on getting people to vote. Avila said that this is a very important election for America and that everyone should voice their opinion. Avila said that it is our right and duty to vote and he wants to help change the perception that college students don̢۪t vote or care.

“This is an important time in politics and with the struggling economy, the State Assembly needs a strong young voice to speak out for the college community,â€Â Matt Smith, Avila’s campaign leader said.

Avila has been out talking to the public, precinct walking from door to door talking to voters. He has also been phone banking, calling voters in his district, to get his name out there.

Besides receiving support from friends and family, Avila is supported by campus clubs such as Fresno Young Democrats. More importantly he has received support from state officials including Treasurer Bill Lockyer. Avila received a letter earlier this month stating that Lockyer supports Avila̢۪s campaign.

“I think Humberto running for Assembly presents a terrific opportunity and opens up the door for young people to get into politics,â€Â Mark Torres, a Fresno Young Democrats club member said. “For far too long being involved in politics or running for a political office has been characterized as something only older folks do but you see a lot of younger people doing it now, especially for local offices here in the city of Fresno.â€Â

Carns has been helping Avila get his name out and said they have had a pretty enthusiastic response from voters.

Avila agreed that the responses he has received have mostly been positive, although some people, Republican or otherwise, just don̢۪t want to talk to him.

“No matter how this whole thing turns out, it has been a great learning process and has allowed me to mature,â€Â Avila said. “I feel what I am doing for the community is important and I hope that on Election Day I get the support from fellow Fresno State students.â€Â

“It does not matter whether you’re a Democrat, Republican or Independent,â€Â Avila said. “What does matter is that students become politically involved and vote. Not just for president, but the local races as well.â€Â

By Kelly Lucas and Hank Charles / The Collegian