AMBITIOUS TEEN IN COUNCIL RACE.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Seventeen-year-old Mike Egan sees his youth as an asset, and, as a City Council member, says he would work to present the teen voice while tackling issues such as traffic and development.

Egan, who will turn 18 - legal voting age - on Dec. 17, has added his name to the short list of candidates who have announced plans to run for one of three open seats in the April election, making him the city's youngest candidate ever.

Mayor Clyde Smyth and council members Jo Anne Darcy and Carl Boyer have not said whether they will seek re-election.

``What better than a youth to deal with the problems involving youth?'' said Egan, a Valencia High School senior. ``I have a lot of experience dealing with violence, crime and youth issues. There are a lot of problems I see plaguing the city right now, and I want to be part of the solution and help out.''

The opportunity to become a council member is worth forgoing a freshman year at the University of California, Santa Barbara, or San Diego State University, said Egan, who has applied to those schools and others.

If elected, Egan said, he would take classes at College of the Canyons, which he already does, and complete his degree later.

A term on the council, he said, would be too good of a learning experience to pass up.

``I'm for controlled development,'' Egan said. ``I think development is great. But with development, there has to be adequate schooling. There has to be enough roads and parks. Everything that's needed at that time needs to be built, not 10 years later.''

Egan is a lifelong resident of the city and has been active in several local organizations, including the Sheriff's Station Community Advisory Committee and the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Alliance.

Egan also was selected to participate in the newly formed Attorney General Council on Youth.

``I'm planning to stay in the city and have my own family in the city,'' Egan said. ``I'm not planning on going anywhere any time soon.''

Egan's decision to run was only mildly surprising to his mother, Yvonne Egan.

``It did surprise us. But, then, knowing Michael, it kind of didn't,'' she said. ``He says he's going to be president by the time he's 45. So I guess this is just the beginning. You have to know Michael. He's very ambitious.''

His commitment has Councilwoman Jill Klajic's support. The civics lesson alone should make the experience worth it, she said.

``I told him, more power to you. It's a great experience. You'll probably learn a lot. And, what the heck, you might win,'' Klajic said. ``He's willing to work and get involved, and I think that's great.''

Egan said he'll be working with a shoestring budget, and probably will rely more on talking with people in the community rather than publishing expensive advertisements.

``I'm a young adult and I will run a campaign like a young adult,'' Egan said. ``I'm going to go door to door. And you'll see me at the mall talking to people all the time.''

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Photo: (Color) Valencia High School senior Mike Egan is a Santa Clarita City Council candidate.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News