Filed under MSNBC’s “Weird News” on Friday … voters in Muskogee, Okla. reacted to politics as usual in their town by electing 19-year-old John Tyler Hammons as mayor.

The college freshman, who will be sworn in today, was elected with 70 percent of the vote in a runoff election. Residents say he represents a “fresh start” for Muskogee, population: 38,000.

Hammons will be one of the youngest mayors in the United States, but he is not without political experience: he was president of his senior class at Muskogee High School in 2007 (Yes, 2007. We are all old.) and president of BOTH the Young Republicans and Young Democrats clubs, although he now considers himself a Republican.

AND he’s a political science major at the University of Oklahoma. Although, he was moving out of the dorms and back in with the ‘rents this week as he prepared to be sworn in.

Does this qualify as “weird news”? It’s actually so rare to see young people interested in politics, let alone running for office that — unfortunately — yes, this is a little weird. It’s bizarre because it’s so rare.

As a very young mayor, Hammons is always going to face challenges and stigmas because of his age and lack of experience. Check out this video of an interview with Hammons from The Oklahoman. As the interviewer puts it in one of her first questions: “You’re 19. You should be in college or tuning up a truck or something.”

Ouch. But true?

At the same time, his youth could very well be an advantage. The image of aged politicians scheming in smoke-filled back rooms has long been notorious for turning people off from politics. Hammons’ opponent was a 70-year-old, former three-term mayor. I admit that I know very little about the issues at stake in the Muskogee race … but there’s something to be said for that.

I think Hammons’ story is interesting and inspiring, and I hope he does good things for the city of Muskogee. He has the opportunity to set an example for other aspiring young leaders looking to make a difference and prove to everyone else that the under-30 crowd isn’t just about iPods and reality TV. Let’s hope his heart is in the right place.

(Mahalos to JMAW for the link.)

Photo: AP/Sue Ogrocki