WILTON – Little man, big ideas.

That’s the catchy slogan 17-year-old James Cote of Wilton used in his successful bid to become the governor of the 2003 Dirigo Boys State. And just like a professional politician, Cote found out that smiling a lot and shaking countless hands doesn’t hurt the campaign.

The 5-foot-7-inch Mount Blue High School senior and son of Bernice and Geoffrey Cote traveled last week with 11 other students from the high school to Maine Maritime Academy on Penobscot Bay in Castine. They joined more than 400 of the state’s top 11th-grade male leaders for Dirigo Boys State, which is sponsored by the American Legion.

The program teaches students the duties and obligations of being a citizen in a democracy.

At Boys State, students learn government by participating in the politics of a fictitious state, applicably named “Dirigo.” Legislative, administrative and judicial programs are developed, bills are written and adopted and the governor of Dirigo must draw up and get a $2 billion annual budget past Dirigo’s elected senate and house.

Sponsored by the American Legion Post 28 of Farmington and Post 17 of Wilton, Cote is the first student in the Boys State history from Mount Blue to be elected governor of Dirigo.

Campaign trail

Within minutes of checking into his dorm room, the recently-elected senior class president and standout as a Cougar linebacker, offensive linemen and center on the varsity football team was asked if he wanted to run for higher office.

The little man had big aspirations, and automatically set his sights on becoming governor. “If I was going to do it, I was going to do it big,” Cote said.

“I decided I was going to get in there and make as much of a difference at Boys State as I could in that one week.”

And so, while the other boys were playing football and hanging out, Cote was campaigning, making signs and writing speeches. “I was definitely smiling a lot though, and shaking a lot of hands,” Cote said, laughing. “I figured let’s do it all the way. I knew I would make my mom and dad proud.”

Plus, being able to write governor of Dirigo Boys State on a college application doesn’t look too shabby, Cote added.

After a field of 20 gubernatorial candidates got narrowed down to two in the primary, Cote faced off in a debate.

Among his platforms, Cote said he stood for conservation, jump-starting the economy, getting drug companies to drop their prices and boosting wages for teachers.

He also endorsed requiring the federal and state governments to financially back up their education mandates.

Three days after he arrived, he clinched the gubernatorial race, was given his own office and put his John Hancock on several bills, including one that would raise the cigarette tax by 25 percent with the increase earmarked for education and health care.

“It was pretty awesome. They called my name, and it was like, sweet, and I stood up and then it was right to work,” Cote said. Best of all, he won without slinging one fistful of mud.

Meeting Baldacci

Among the highlights of the week was a visit from the real governor of the state, John Baldacci, who quickly made students feel comfortable, Cote said, when he announced he had a letter to hand deliver to a Boys State participant whose girlfriend was at Girls State, where Baldacci had just spoken, 100 miles east at Husson College in Bangor.

Cote said after the experience, he is more aware of the duties Americans have in relation to the political process. Voting, he points out, is a right, but one that should only be exercised if it’s backed up by information. “I think it’s important to be knowledgeable and form a somewhat educated opinion before you vote,” he said. “Even if it’s just reading one newspaper article.”

Despite having to give up a full week of soaking in the summer sun, Cote is happy he gave Boys State his all.

“I’ve learned to stand up more for what I believe in and that if you set your mind to something, you can really achieve it,” Cote said. “If you can get into something like this to boost your confidence and get educated, it’s really worth it.”

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link