20-Year-Old Iowan May Be America’s Youngest Mayor

One college student went for more than an internship.

2 records may be being set in a southwest Iowa town of 144 residents called Henderson.

KMTV reports that 20-year-old college student Eva Fipps has been sworn in as the town's mayor. She joins 2 other young elected officials in Mills County: 19-year-old County Supervisor Jack Sayers and 21-year-old Silver City Mayor Joseph Jaworski.

Eva was encouraged to run for Henderson's mayor position by Henderson City Clerk Candace Knop, who supported her because "we need fresh blood". Eva said it was a last-minute decision to run but she has had interest in public service, as she served as a page in the Iowa House of Representatives and was part of the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program.

County Supervisor Sayers influenced her road to politics by giving a presentation to her high school class about the legislative page program.

Eva is still in college and planning to go to law school. Her election into the Henderson mayor position might make her the nation's youngest mayor and quite possibly the youngest female mayor in American history. She says her focus is on revitalizing Henderson. Mayor Fipps told the outlet:

I would love nothing more to just see our town flourish again.

Believe it or not, Henderson, Iowa does have a reputation for producing successful politicians, including a Speaker of the Iowa House Bill Harbor and U.S. Congressman Bill Scherle.

The only other confirmed young current U.S. mayor is a 21-year-old woman that took office last year.