WASHOUGAL — The suit, the composure, the charm — you’d never guess that young man sitting alongside city councilors had a high school final exam the next day.
At 18, Caleb Bischoff is the youngest member of the Washougal City Council. After getting appointed to represent the school on the council this fall, Bischoff has had no regrets giving up his Monday nights.
“It is a huge learning experience. I’m learning in-depth how the city works,” the Washougal High School senior said. “It’s more about how as a citizen I can apply myself, and I have the special position of sitting on the council, giving advice to the council members.”
Bischoff’s council colleagues are quick to commend the student’s work so far.
“He’s a sweet kid, and very responsible,” Councilor Michelle Wagner said.
“And very composed,” Councilor Paul Greenlee added.
On Monday, Bischoff introduced himself to guests before the meeting, asked questions and was quietly though visibly engaged with the council’s brief agenda.
“They made a good choice,” City Administrator David Scott said. “He has provided input to get a perspective not often heard in here.”
Washougal High Principal Aaron Hansen appointed Bischoff earlier this year, and he will serve until he graduates in June.
Bischoff is the second student to serve on the council, after Paige Moore last year.
Mayor Sean Guard reached out to the school district to start the student representative program two years ago “in order to get some additional input and insight to some decisions and discussions that we have,” he said.
Guard said that despite Bischoff’s heavy class load and other school responsibilities, he has come to every meeting and workshop.
He must be having fun, as his holiday-themed tie at Monday’s meeting seemed to indicate.
“I really enjoy how city council members are willing to clarify things for the citizens and for me, personally,” Bischoff said, adding he has been interested in seeing issues tackled from different viewpoints.
Washougal is the only city in the county to have a student representative program, though Guard said it would be great if the initiative spread to other cities.
Greenlee, sitting two seats down from Bischoff, said he’d like to find even more ways to get young people involved in local government and civics.
“We’re making decisions that will probably affect them more in the future than it will us,” he said.
Bischoff has an eye for the political process. He attributes a lot of that to his time at Boy’s State, a summer mock-government program.
“I think (involvement) is very important, just so that we can keep the best variety of people in politics in general,” Bischoff said. “There are only so few people to elect, and if the people are not the best quality, then you’re not going to have the best government. The government’s only as good as the people in it.”
Bischoff already has his future laid out: serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attend Brigham Young University and major in business management specializing in entrepreneurship. While he intends to stay politically savvy as an adult, who knows if he’ll run for office one day.
“I think I will be participating in politics in my older age, not necessarily as my permanent job, but as a citizen. I’ll definitely be encouraging others.”
