Diamond Elementary Fourth Grader, Purani Kannan, Selected as Gaithersburg Junior Mayor
Fourth grader Purani Kannan, a student at Diamond Elementary School, has been chosen as the 2017 Gaithersburg Junior Mayor. She will join Mayor Jud Ashman and members of the City Council at public ceremonies and events around the city this year. Her first Council appearance is scheduled for May 1st.
In her winning essay, Purani writes about how she would involve city residents in the designing of a community center. She writes that a feeling of belonging is important for “a happy community.” She said she believes all people should be involved in decision making and planning. As for the ideal community center, she said it would have nursing rooms for moms, a childcare center, a pet care center, playroom, cafeteria, classrooms, gardens, a prayer room, an indoor swimming pool, WiFi and more.
The “If I were Mayor…” contest is sponsored by the Maryland Municipal League, the Maryland Mayors’ Association and the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Company. The contest asks fourth graders to submit essays describing what they would do as mayor.
Over 100 essays were submitted by Gaithersburg students this year. The city’s Educational Enrichment Committee selected five finalists, and Purani was chosen as the winner. Purani’s first appearance will be at the State of the City dinner on April 13, when the gavel is passed to her by current Junior Mayor Srinidhi Guruvayurappan who is also a Diamond Elementary School student.
You can read Purani’s winning essay on the city’s website, here.
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