A junior at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, Jonathan Goldman is a member of the debate team and serves as vice president of the squash club. But outside the classroom, he lives a public life.

The politics and philosophy double major was recently elected to the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, representing the Western Massachusetts district that encompasses his hometown of Northampton.

At 20 years old, Goldman is the youngest member of the committee.

While in high school, Goldman joined the Northampton Mayor’s Youth Commission at the invitation of Bill Dwight, president of the Northampton City Council.

Serving as co-chair of the commission in his senior year, Goldman was influential in initiating a city composting system, as well as creating BenchWalk, a program that solicited local artists to paint city benches to promote public space.

“What’s most astonishing is he’s accomplished more than most middle-aged people,” Dwight said. “These things would not have happened without Jonathan’s work and effort.”

Goldman’s service in the Youth Commission inspired him to continue his political involvement beyond Northampton. Although often overlooked, the junior saw his youth as a positive quality and decided to run for office.

Goldman was ultimately the victor in a closely contested election, but to those close to him, the result came as no surprise.
“He seems to have an energy that’s superhuman, and so I expect bigger things for Jonathan,” Dwight said. “Wherever he goes and whatever he does, I have no doubt that he’s going to do it very, very well.”

This sentiment was echoed by Ryan LaRochelle, one of Goldman’s former professors at Brandeis. Now a lecturer in leadership studies at the University of Maine, LaRochelle said he was struck by his motivation.

“He has this rare combination of both being very idealistic but also incredibly driven and hardworking,” LaRochelle said.

Courtesy of Jonathan Goldman

The professor added that while many college students have great ideas, Goldman is one of the few that make his ideas reality.

Goldman said he aims to achieve some of these plans while on the committee. One of his goals is to promote regional cooperation by holding meetings between local and state officials. His long-term goals include making Massachusetts a national leader in immigration and education.
In response to how he’ll manage his responsibilities on the committee with being a full-time student, Goldman said he’s not worried.

“It’s never really been something I’ve had too much of an issue with,” Goldman said. “I’ve always seen school as what I wanted to be a supplement to what I was working on.”

Younger people’s involvement in politics has become increasingly common on a national scale, unlike anything in recent decades, said Christopher Faricy, an associate professor of political science at Syracuse University.

Faricy sees Goldman’s election as part of a trend in response to the election of President Donald Trump.

“People from diverse backgrounds, including young people, are throwing their hat into the ring and running for state and local office and being successful,” Faricy said.

As more young people become politically involved, whether through political campaigns or running for office, obstacles will become fewer, Faricy said.

Goldman’s advice is similarly simple.

“It is the most cliche thing that anyone will ever say, but if you show up at things, it goes a long way,” he said.

Published on December 4, 2017 at 10:54 pm

Contact Jordan: jslazins@syr.edu