Damien Bower of Walnutport hopes to be governor some day. The Northern Lehigh senior has been working in Rep. Julie Harhart's office as an intern for his student project. The office is in the Slatington borough hall.

But his interest in politics began earlier when he and his father Kip made a hobby or arguing national politics.He was looking for a student project and his first idea of working at the Walnutport carnival was no good because he would be out of town at that time.He emailed Julie Harhart to see if she had any suggestions. She said he could help with the Northampton Fair.He recalled talking to her a year earlier and she had offered him an internship. Bower emailed to see if that offer was still good.He has been spending three days a week at Harhart's office.One of his first jobs was packing gift bags for her annual Senior Expo. That was the type of work he expected but he was soon working with aides Jodi Nestor and Trisha Schifferle. They had him participating in everything they were doing.Nestor said he was an eager learner."I didn't expect to be so involved with everything," Bower said.At the Senior Expo, which Harhart hosted, he met Wendy Schlappich, the office manager who works out of the Northampton office.Bower's job was to help anyone who seemed to need it and to hand out the bags he had packed a few days earlier. Mostly, he was greeting people with "How are you?"He accompanied the staff to the trailhead dedication in Slatington.While there he met Congressman Charlie Dent by means of an introduction by Harhart.He said he turned around and there were a lot of cameras pointed their way. Dave Altrichter took one of him and Dent that will be in the Northern Valley Gazette, something he is looking forward to seeing."Being governor is my dream and what better way is there to get a start than in Harhart's office," he said.His mother said she was impressed with how he was included with everything. Twice he came home and said it was the best day ever.At a John Q breakfast at Morgan's Restaurant Harhart introduced him to her constituentsBower plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh where he will study political science or law. Following college, he hopes there will be an open position in Harhart's office where he'd like to get a job."I want to run for her seat when she retires," he said. Harhart is from the 183rd district which covers parts of Lehigh and Northampton counties.He has been practicing his speech making as a member of the high school debate team, which won several individual debates.History is a favorite subject so he also participates in the Citizen Bee, a contest where students have to answer history questions.Last year his family hosted an exchange student from Germany. He was glad they had the opportunity because the program has been dropped at Northern Lehigh. He said there was an exchange student at the trailhead dedication but he was not aware of it at the time and missed the chance to talk to him.As governor he would like to rework the education system with vouchers and by lessening the power of the union.Bower thinks medical marijuana should be legalized because "It's helpful to those who need it." He would support civil unions, and thinks anti-sexting laws would be useless because they can't be enforced."Fiscally I'm a Republican. Government should stay out of people's business," Bower said.He favors creating a web site that would list the tax implications of any law.He would join those governors who are against the federal health care law, in part because it does not include tort reform. He understands that sometimes mistakes are made that a doctor cannot help and the person should not receive "huge money."Insurance has to be more competitive by opening it up for purchase across state lines. In one state 90 percent of the health insurance written is by one company.Then Bower adds that in 20 years when he is governor things will be different with new problems.