[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]There aren't many 19-year-olds who can say they represent more than 13,000 people in their city government. But as of last week, Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, is one of the few who can.

Although Judge is originally from River Forest, Ill., the University of Wisconsin sophomore decided to run for Madison Common Council after his experiences as chair of Students for a Fair Wisconsin, an organization working against the state constitutional ban on civil unions and gay marriage that passed last November.

"I managed to talk to thousands of different students and came to realize the power and importance of the student voice," Judge said. "I felt that I could bring that voice to City Council."

While Judge is known for his active role in supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, he chose not to sign the marriage ban protest as part of his oath of office on Tuesday — a move that surprised many.

Judge said, however, the decision had nothing to do with his opinion on the ban itself.

"Although I strongly, strongly support the idea [of removing the ban], I have a personal problem with attaching things to an oath," Judge said. "I'm worried that it might make a dangerous precedent."

Judge also demonstrates strong opinions on issues such as student and campus safety and was happy to learn Thursday that he will be serving on the Public Safety Review Board.

In addition to the six other committees he was appointed to, Judge hopes to be a member of the Tenants Landlord Subcommittee, saying he feels such issues are central to his district.

Although Judge is a very recent addition to the Madison Common Council, long-standing member Common Council President Mike Verveer, District 4, said he is already impressed by the young representative.

"In the very few days we've been working together, he's definitely exceeded my expectations, and I expect really good things from him in the months ahead," Verveer said. "I've served with several different 8th District alders, and I can say that he seems right up there among the others."

Since elected, Judge has been working with Verveer on the Used Textbook Ordinance, a plan that will establish regulations for selling used textbooks in an attempt to discourage textbook theft.

"Hopefully this will help curtail the amount of theft that is going on, because a stolen book isn't just something that hits your wallet, it hits your grades, too," Judge said.

Verveer said he looks forward to working with Judge as co-sponsors of this ordinance, although the proposal was first introduced by Judge's predecessor, Austin King.

According to King, who held Judge's position as the District 8 representative for four years, Judge's effectiveness as an alder remains to be seen.

"I hope he'll work up to the progressive values he espoused," King said. "He's clearly very impressive, and I just hope he does something good with it."

King said he hopes Judge can fulfill his campaign promise to return the interest rate on security deposits back to 5 percent.

Judge's term on the City Council will last for the next two years.