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Boys State Governor Appreciates Spontaneity: Central Student Enjoys Thinking on His Feet, Looks for Trait in High-Profile Leaders

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 06:00 CDT

By Erin Hendricks, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

Jun. 20--Sam Merkel doesn't do speech writing.

Sure, the newest Boys State governor-elect and Aberdeen native may jot down an outline now and then, but most of the time he will just wing it.

"I don't write speeches," Merkel said. "The last time I was in there (Boys State closing ceremony) Alex (Hewett, last year's governor) told me I had to have a speech as I was walking in, and I said, 'OK.'"

The debate team participant doesn't rely on elaborate campaigns, either. It's just not his schtick. Thinking on his feet and speaking extemporaneously is much more his style, he said. It's also a quality he looks for in high-profile leaders. "I kind of like that ability in politicians -- the ability to just stand up and tell you something from what they know and not have it prepared by someone else," Merkel said.

Two weeks ago, Merkel, 18, was immersed in the campaign process at Boys State, which is at Northern State University every year. Exceptional high school juniors are nominated by their schools to participate in the event, and those who fulfill the requirements are sponsored by their local American Legion. The program focuses on teaching promising students about government election procedures on a national and local level. The week's activities ended June 3.

One reason Merkel enjoyed Boys State is that many of the speeches -- including his own and those from political dignitaries Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Mayor Mike Levsen and Gov. Mike Rounds -- were open to the floor for public forum debate.

During Boys State orientation, participants are designated into fictional Nationalist or Federalist parties for U.S. cities. As a member of the Nationalist Party for Phoenix, Merkel debated with the Federalist Party nominee in front of 470 Boys Staters. It was a new experience, he said.

"It was definitely something I've never done before," he said.

Going to nationals: Even though Merkel is only a senior at Central High School, one would hardly call him a debate novice. Merkel and several other members of the school's debate team will depart Friday for the national competition in Dallas. The 10-day competition engages students in trials such as Student Congress, policy making, an activity called Lincoln-Douglas and public forum debate. One of his teammates, Dylan Kessler, was last year's Boys State lieutenant governor-elect. Kessler was able to draw on his experiences and offer Merkel a few objective tips during the Boys State conference, Merkel said.

Merkel does not limit himself to one extracurricular activity.

The week after Boys State ended, he switched competitive gears via Aberdeen Central High's football camp. Debate camp starts at South Dakota State University in Brookings on July 4. When the scheduled portion of his summer is over, Merkel plans to join his family at their summer home on Richmond Lake for skiing, wakeboarding and sitting around the camp fire.

The Merkel family includes one sister, Lindsey, 16, and parents, Holly and Rusty.

No preferences: Even though his full roster includes football, the debate team and Student Senate, Merkel said he does not prefer one particular activity over another. It all depends on what activity is on his plate, he said, because the debate season and football season do not conflict. Upon graduating from Central High, Merkel plans to enroll either at a state school or a university in New York. He is undecided on a major, but has considered law school and medical school as potential career paths down the road.

Years from now, one of the most memorable experiences from his high school years will be a Boys State victory and the people he met along the way, he said. One such person is Rounds, whom Merkel helped pick up from the airport before he spoke to other Boys Staters at the governor's banquet. The two talked sometime before the governor's speech, and the chat became an opportunity for Merkel to ask Rounds about his political platforms. One topic of discussion was the governor's stance on the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind Act.

"At first I didn't think the policy was that great, but he seemed to get me a little interested in it," Merkel said.

Credits simplicity: In a modest tone, the senior credited his Boys State success to the sheer simplicity of his campaign.

"You need confidence ... and not worry about finding a middle ground," Merkel said. "The problem with politics today is that everyone is trying to make everybody happy. The good politicians take a stand on certain things."

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Copyright (c) 2006, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: American News (Aberdeen, S.D.)

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