Class assignment leads to council position

Ryan Rupp began attending Luzerne town council meetings as a baby on his dad's lap.

So, when Ryan's government class assignment at Belle Plaine High School was to sit in on a government meeting, his return to the Luzerne council chambers only seemed natural.

What Ryan, 18, didn't expect was to learn the council had a shortage of candidates in November's general election. So, on a whim, he became a write-in candidate.

Then he won, garnering 11 votes. That was good enough to finish fourth in the race to elect all five council members. He joins uncle Dwight Glinsmann, Lorin Potter, Jeani Brandt and Kelly Kendell on the council

“I was really antsy, to see if I got it or not,” Ryan says about that Nov. 3 election night. “I was really hoping I got it.”

First, this makes Ryan the youngest person to serve on a town council in Luzerne, population 105.

But, most of all, he becomes the third generation of his family to serve the community, following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, Ervin Glinsmann, and his parents, Rick and Jackie Rupp.

“I know my mom was mayor for a while, then my grandpa was mayor, then my mom kind of took over again,” Ryan says. “We're kind of the go-to family.”

I first met Ervin on a warm July day in 2003 when the town was giving away wooden snow fence because a new snow-clearing tractor made its use unnecessary.

I met him again in late 2007 as a new $1.5 million viaduct replaced a rickety old wooden bridge that crossed railroad tracks to connect the north and south sides of town. As mayor, Ervin worked to get that bridge replaced. He was overjoyed to finally see it.

Unfortunately, Ervin died a couple of months later. So, he didn't see his grandson sworn into office Nov. 16.

For Ryan, that's sad. Ervin always picked him up from elementary school and bought him candy on their coffee stop.

But, Ryan, who will earn $5 for each monthly council meeting, has already received plenty of advice. As a football linebacker, a track sprinter and a baseball pinch runner who will study biology in college, he knows a little about working hard and teamwork.

“I just think it's going to help me out a lot,” Ryan says. “It'll be a great learning experience.”

So, he told his government teacher, “I only think it's fair I get a little extra credit for this.”

His teacher chuckled. But, Ryan's election made him the first student on the class' “news notes” board. And, he just might make it again.