BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — “Being 26 is definitely an uphill battle, but it’s one that I think it’s a challenge that I so willingly accept.”
Seth Hewett, a young buck for Kern County’s political scene, brings a whole lot of enthusiasm to a packed Ward 3 race.
“I am a fan of the two-party system. I’m not a fan of the culture that’s grown around it. And so I see this as an opportunity for my campaign to provide not a third party, but just a third way of thinking,” Hewett said.
Hewett, a recent graduate of the University of Southern California, has long called Bakersfield home — along with the six generations of his family.
Hewett’s great grandfather Walter Floyd Heisey served on the City Council in the 1970’s and helped secure the city’s water rights to the Kern River.
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His great grandfather’s service to the community inspired Hewett to try for the political scene.
“I want to say about 18, 19, that’s when I started to use my grandpa as that role model. And I really admired and revered what he did in our community and how much pride he took in our city.”
But outside of running political office, Hewett lives to serve.
The soon to be president of Kern Kiwanis has traveled to South America, Africa and the Philippines on mission trips through local churches.
He’s also served as a city fellow working with the Bakersfield Fire Department.
His first priority — innovate and create a more transparent council through an interactive portal.
“One of the biggest concerns that we hear fleshed out from public comments here in Bakersfield is obviously conflicts of interest. Where is our money going? Is our money being spent the right way? A company will come in, digitalize all of that and make it accessible to every resident, regardless of if they have a background in financial literacy or anything like that,” Hewett said.
Knocking door to door, Hewett often gets questions about his age and experience.
But despite that 26-year-old label, he’s ready to take on the problems of Ward 3.
“I want my constituents to know that I am ready to go, that this 26-year-old doesn’t have to go on Khan Academy to learn the functions of his trade. This is something that I’ve absolutely trained for.”
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