DAPHNE — In Daphne, high school students are commencing their second year of civic engagement.

Daphne Junior City Council appointed three new officers to lead the nine-member council, granting members a platform to engage in local governance from an early age.

According to Daphne City Clerk Candace Antinarella, before becoming a part of the junior city council, those interested must apply for the position and be approved after an interview.

Eligible applicants must be high school sophomores, juniors or seniors, with eight members residing within Daphne city limits. One member is allowed to reside outside the city boundaries.

The application process includes submitting an application, a minimum of a one-page essay explaining why the student wishes to participate in junior city council and two letters of recommendation.

Antinarella said each junior city council member receives a copy of the Roberts Rules of Order book to review before council meetings.

"It is a book of parliamentary procedure that the City of Daphne has adopted as part of the rules of procedure ordinance," she said. "We abide by these rules in all of our business meetings. I provided each of the junior council members a book to use as reference to understand better the way our government runs."

On July 19, Daphne Junior City Council gathered at Daphne City Hall in the Jubilee conference room to discuss various matters concerning the city.
During the meeting, Antinarella announced that the council members would elect officers for the new term.

The city clerk reminded the members of the junior city council before electing officers to "look at eagerness" before voting for the officers.

The elected positions included chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary.
Following members' individual presentations on why they are suitable for the positions, each member cast votes via paper ballots.

After the votes were tallied, three Daphne High School students emerged as the elected officers. Sunny Blackwood assumed the role of chairperson; Gracie Robinson became the vice chairperson, and Daniel Hill took on the role of secretary.

Robinson, who will be participating in the junior city council for the second year, expressed enthusiasm for achieving goals alongside her fellow council members.

"My main goal for this year is to make city government more accessible to everybody around us and in the city and specifically in the schools," Robinson said. The vice chairperson said she hopes to help people in high school learn more about local government.

Chairperson Sunny Blackwood said she was honored to be leading the council and emphasized her organizational skills.

"Last year I was secretary, but it didn't involve a whole lot of leadership," said the newly elected chairperson. "I think I already have a good basis of what is required of us and have what I need to lead the group better and make our existing projects come to life."

Newly elected Secretary Daniel Hill said he is eagers to contribute to the junior city council's efforts.

"I have been really pushing a couple of projects through the junior city council, and I think those are really going to help getting the government out there," Hall said.

All three officers share the common goal of encouraging and informing their peers about local government, striving to ignite interest and involvement among their age group.

Future junior city council meetings are set to be held on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Jubilee conference room at Daphne City Hall.