SEARSMONT, Maine — In the last few weeks, 17-year-old Peter Spectre of Searsmont has traveled far to participate in Boys State and then Boys Nation in Washington, D.C.
Along the way, he has found a new passion for service and even some fame, after he was elected vice president of Boys Nation.
“We saw lots of politicians. We met the president and went to the White House. It was really cool,” Spectre said of Boys Nation. “I never really thought about military service before, and that’s changed, and I definitely think I want to run for public office.”
The rising senior at Belfast Area High School said that before this spring, he hadn’t really known much about the summer leadership programs, which are sponsored by the American Legion. The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors Girls State, a separate program. But when his guidance counselor suggested he sign up to go to the Boys State program held at Thomas College in Waterville, Spectre was chosen and threw himself into the politics. He was elected to be mayor of his town at Boys State and worked to help Seamus McDonough of Wells be elected governor.
McDonough then appointed Spectre to be chief justice of the Supreme Court of Boys State, and the Searsmont teen learned about several recent Maine court cases while he sat on the high court. He was surprised and pleased to be selected as one of Maine’s two delegates to Boys Nation, a similar weeklong program that treats youth like young lawmakers. They caucus at the beginning of the session, organize into committees, conduct hearings on bills, organize party conventions, then nominate and elect a president and vice president.
Spectre said he initially was intimidated by the other participants’ political prowess.
“At Boys State in Maine, there are 200 kids, not necessarily all of them knowing about politics,” he said. “In Boys Nation, you could tell that everyone there was a budding politician.”
He was nominated to be a vice presidential candidate at the primary convention and then campaigned. During the general election, Spectre and his opponent, a delegate from New Hampshire, made Boys Nation history when they tied 49 to 49; the election was decided by a coin toss, which the Mainer won.
After that, he served as the president of the Boys Nation Senate and met with Maine’s two U.S. senators. And he has some words of encouragement for other teenage boys.
“Definitely do Boys State. It is an awesome experience,” he said, admitting his newfound political power might not play well back home. “I told my mom she has to call me Mr. Vice President now. I don’t think that’s going to fly.”