When the final ballots were tallied Tuesday night, the town’s oldest—and now youngest—elected official stepped up to the microphone: a first-year student in a sweatshirt and a mayoral sash.
Alex Navarro, 18, who arrived on campus this fall with a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies, won a surprise victory in last month’s special election to fill the remainder of former Mayor L. Hayes’s term. Navarro ran on a platform that mixed campus-minded pragmatism (“free bus rides between town and campus”) with small-town priorities (“fix Chestnut Street potholes before winter”).
“I never expected to be standing here,” Navarro told a crowd of cheering classmates, town residents, and one confused delivery driver. “I signed up to help with recycling, not run a city. But if they trust me, I’ll work harder than anyone to earn that trust.”
Navarro’s campaign grew out of a student-led town-gown forum last spring in which community members and students argued over parking, green-space planning, and late-night noise. After hearing residents’ concerns, Navarro—then a volunteer organizer—was urged by neighbors and several local business owners to run when the special election was called.
The results were close. Navarro won by a margin of 214 votes, buoyed by a strong turnout of students who registered to vote in town. “It wasn’t just college kids,” said longtime shop owner Maria Gonzalez. “Alex listens. They came to my café, looked me in the eye, and asked what mattered.”
Some residents voiced concerns about experience. City Council Member Priya Singh said, “We’ll hold them accountable. We’ll mentor. But we’re also excited — fresh perspectives can push us forward.” The council plans to appoint an experienced deputy mayor and create a student liaison committee to balance continuity and innovation.
Navarro has already scheduled a town hall for next week and promises a “listening-first” approach: repairing infrastructure, expanding late-night transit, and piloting a student-run sustainability internship with the public works department.
As confetti fell and cameras flashed, Navarro waved to a crowd that included dorm-mates and constituents. “Mayor” may be a big title for a freshman, but for now it’s also a symbol: a town willing to try something new, and a student ready to learn fast.
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