BUCKHANNON — During a WDTV newscast, a Khan campaign adviser falsely claimed that Asad Derya Khan is “probably the youngest person who’s ever run for council in Buckhannon.”
“He’ll probably be the youngest person who’s ever run for council in Buckhannon. He’s very well educated, and aside from the education he is super intelligent,” expressed political adviser Elissa Linger Mills.
While Khan is 18-years-old, he is not the youngest candidate that sought the office of city council in Buckhannon. In 2016, radio talk show host and Buckhannon-Upshur High School Student Caiden Cowger ran for city council at the age of 17. In West Virginia, 17-year-olds are legally eligible to vote in the primaries, as long as they turn 18 by the general election.
The age restriction to serve on the city council is 18. Cowger would have turned 18 prior to the time of entering the office; therefore, he was able to run as a 17-year-old candidate. A similar occurrence took place with Del. Saira Blair, who sought a seat in the House of Delegates’ 59th district in 2014.
While Khan’s campaign is historic, serving as the first person of Muslim faith to seek the office of Buckhannon City Council, it is not historic in a sense of his age.