Yassine Benouardia knows he has little chance to be elected state representative from Lynn this year.
But that hasn’t discouraged the 19-year-old Moroccan native from entering the race to fill the seat vacated by former state Rep. Brendan Crighton, who was recently elected to the state senate.
The West Lynn resident immigrated to the U.S. with his parents and a brother and a sister in 2008 with big dreams.
“My ultimate goal is to be president of the United States,” he said. “I know I can’t run because the Constitution prohibits it, but gay marriage wasn’t a thing a few years ago and neither was a woman’s right to vote. Things will change. Anything can happen.”
Benouardia, an Independent, joins a field that includes Ward 6 City Councilor Peter Capano, Lynn Museum/Lynn Arts executive director Drew Russo, and City Councilor-at-Large Hong Net, all Democrats. The 11th Essex District House seat includes West Lynn and Nahant.
If Benouardia, a sophomore at North Shore Community College, secures the 150 signatures necessary, he will be placed on the November ballot.
“This is my first time to get my name out there,” he said.
Asked to define three key issues facing voters, he deflected the question.
“I don’t really think about issues,” he said. “I want to see what issues the voters raise, and see what the people need. I will knock on doors, put up signs and use Instagram. If I get 1,000 votes and lose, I’ll try for 2,000 the next time.”
His political idol, he said, is former California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“He came here as an immigrant, a bodybuilder, which is crazy, and became an actor, which is random too, and then became governor,” he said. “It’s crazy.”
