Most members of the Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley are on the far side of 30 years old; Sean Richards — who graduates Thursday from Oak Park High School and who turns 18 today — has not only been a member for two years, he serves on its executive board.

"I love working with everyone in this group," Richards said. "They embrace and, I hope, respect me for what I do.

"My people skills have improved since I joined, and I've learned a lot about the party and how local politics work," he said.

Jay Kapitz of Oak Park organizes the Democratic Club's precinct walking and community outreach; it was his daughter who suggested to Richards that he check out a meeting.

"I was amazed at Sean's maturity," Kapitz said. "He was completely at ease interacting with our older members. He was a politician in the making."

Kapitz, who has been involved with the Democratic Club for five years, said it is likely that Richards is the youngest board member ever.

"He's certainly the youngest in my tenure, and I'm going to guess and say he's probably the youngest ever — probably by far," Kapitz said.

The teen takes his work seriously. On his own, Kapitz said, Richards came up with plans to register voters on high school and college campuses.

"He also created a program where students registered voters at retirement homes," Kapitz said. "He told me that my daughter Sarah was helping him. I did a double take: MY Sarah?!' Somehow, he was able to get his peers involved," Kapitz said.

Richards, now the club's youth coordinator, also is in charge of scheduling volunteers to man the voter registration table at the Oaks shopping center.

No one in his family is involved in politics. Dad Chris is a commercial real estate agent, Mom Sheila is a physical therapist and brother Adam, 23, is an ambulance driver. The family does discuss current events, but Sean credits his maternal grandfather, Seymour Zimmerman of Camarillo, for sparking his interest in politics. "He was the first to openly discuss his views with me and, although we don't always agree on issues, he's probably the reason I'm fascinated with politics," Sean said.

When he was 10 and the 2000 presidential campaign was in full swing, his fifth-grade class had a debate. Richards, representing Al Gore, won. "I remember that feeling of winning as one of the best feelings I ever had," he said, and he was hooked.

Richards excels in history and has taken Advanced Placement classes in history, government and economics.

"Sean is both inquisitive and well-prepared," history teacher Rob Hall said. "Because of his passion for politics, he makes positive contributions to the class. He inspires the other students by stirring up discussion about important issues."

But the teen does more than just talk about government; he has hands-on experience.

Walking the walk

Since his sophomore year, he has been involved in the YMCA Youth and Government program, which educates high school students in 40 states and the District of Columbia about the principles of a democratic government. The program sets up a model legislature in each state's Capitol building, where students write and debate proposed laws.

The first time that Richards attended, he was selected as one of 25 delegates from California to go on to the July 2006 YMCA Conference on National Affairs in North Carolina. While there, his proposed bill, to eliminate the income tax for minors because they can't vote, made it to the top 20 percent — a major achievement, considering there are 450-plus measures that are initially submitted.

His "no taxation without representation" bill did pass through the model legislature in Sacramento the following year and was signed by the youth governor.

In October, Richards traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum, an educational organization "established to help prepare extraordinary young people for their professional careers," the forum states in its Web site overview.

While there, Richards attended a forum on national security, which explores U.S. diplomacy, intelligence and defense. "I learned what goes into the process of making foreign policy decisions," he said, adding that he has been invited to return to D.C. for the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference, to be held after the November presidential election.

Not surprisingly, Richards said he is "counting down the days until the trip."

Acting locally

He also has gained experience working on the local government level. Last summer, he interned in Assembywoman Julia Brownley's field office in Woodland Hills.

"Sean was an impressive 17-year-old — poised, intellectually curious and mature beyond his years," said Louise Rishoff, district director. "He's a great role model showing his peers the importance of getting personally involved in issues that will impact their futures."

Hall, the history teacher, noted that while many students participate in youth government programs, Richards is among the rare ones who extend these activities to campus life. For example, last year, he arranged for teachers to give extra credit to students who attended a talk by Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara.

"Sean takes the initiative and makes things happen," Hall said.

He has also been president of the school's Democratic Club for the past two years.

"The Republican Club president and I are good friends," the typically diplomatic teen said.

Richards' political heroes include Thomas Jefferson, John F. Kennedy, John Edwards and Gore.

Giving a tip of the hat, as well, to presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Richards said he believes that young people have not been this excited about an election since the Kennedys ran in 1960 and 1968. "Having someone young people can relate to has mobilized them to get involved," he said.

He said he believes the issues that most affect his age group are the war and the rising cost of a college education. He tells those who don't think that voting matters to "come talk to me when you get drafted or when your scholarship is revoked because of budget cuts."

He suggests that kids who want to learn more about candidates tune in Comedy Central — to "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report."

"They are entertaining and do a great job informing people about current events," Richards said.

He encourages everyone on all points in the political spectrum to become active in politics so that "our democracy is truly of the people, by the people and for the people."

Besides school and his political activities, Richards has a part-time job at a gym, volunteers for L.I.F.E. Animal Rescue and the Special Olympics, and has played high school volleyball.

Recently, he found out that he was named a Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar, a distinction reserved for graduating seniors in Ventura County who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities and strong character. He was among 129 chosen this year.

"I am excited to be recognized by the Ronald Reagan Library, especially being a Democrat," Richards said. "It's truly an honor."

Richards plans to attend Sonoma State University and major in political science; he hopes to go on to law school.

"My ultimate goal is to serve in the U.S. Senate," he said. "But as long as I have a loving family and enough money to live comfortably, I will have a happy life."