The average age is around 53 years of the mayoral candidates in the administrative elections for the June session. And leafing through the lists you discover both very young people and “senior” figures ready to take the field to lead their respective countries. There are around thirty people born from 1989 onwards, compared to 323 mayoral candidates: this means that one in ten of the aspiring first citizens who present themselves for the administrative elections in the Bergamo area is under 35 years old.
The youngest mayor in Bergamo in 2019
Five years ago, our province had elected the youngest mayor in Italy: Michele Schiavi da Onore, then in his early twenties (today he is a regional councilor for Fratelli d’Italia). And another seven new mayors in 2019 were “under 30”.
Today, the youngest candidate in the running is Lorenzo Rotawhich runs ad Ambive and he will turn twenty in September. But two other very young people, born in 2000, are in the running in Gorle (Roberto Filisetti) and Grassobbio (Stefano Nozza).
Lorenzo Rota, graduating from Vittorio Emanuele II in Bergamo and already enrolled in the Faculty of Law at Bocconi in Milan, candidate for the civic “Noi di Ambivere Per la Comunità – Lorenzo Rota mayor” supported by the centre-right: he is only 19 years old: “I believe that Ambivere, more than ever, deserves a breath of fresh air today – he declares –. I put myself directly on the line to be the spokesperson for a project of change that will last for years, regardless of the outcome of the administrative elections. I know the task is not easy. It will be tiring and require hard work, but I’m used to it and I’m not afraid. Already in this election campaign I am experiencing wonderful sensations. It’s an experience that is giving me a lot.” Rota will have to deal with the outgoing deputy mayor Vittorio Leoni who presents himself for the civic event «Together for Ambivere – Vittorio Leoni mayor». Stefano Nozza, 24 years old in a few weeks, a job in the family company Euroscavi di Nozza srl, is running for mayor in Grassobbio with the civic slogan «Let’s change together Grassobbio»: «It wasn’t an easy choice – says Nozza -, but I want to show that It’s not true that today’s young people no longer have the desire to commit and get involved. The assignment doesn’t scare me. On my side I have the unscrupulousness typical of my age combined with a very heterogeneous team that supports me. I am ready and together we can do well by bringing an air of renewal to the country. I think age is a point in my favor. We are the adults of tomorrow. The intention is therefore to think above all of long-term projects in every area, which provide prospects for the future and do not end in the space of a few years.” Nozza will battle the outgoing mayor Manuel Bentoglio for the “Let’s move forward together – Manuel Bentoglio Mayor” list. He is also 24 years old for Roberto Filisetti, student of Business Economics, outgoing minority councilor and candidate for mayor in Gorle for the civic “For a better Gorle”: “I entered the Administration when I was 19 years old and for the last five, with a job of active minority, I have had experience – he explains –. All the minority groups supported my candidacy and I am flattered. I put myself on the line for the country where I was born and which I carry in my heart. On my side I have the enthusiasm of young age and new ideas, as well as being able to guarantee time and presence.” Three lists are competing Gorle: in addition to that of Filisetti, also «Innovation and Tradition for Gorle» by Manuele Miceli and «United for Gorle» by the outgoing mayor Giovanni Testa.
Five years ago, our province also had the youngest mayor to win the third mandate: Alberto Maffi from Gandosso was 35 years old in 2019. If reconfirmed, he would therefore automatically become the youngest to win the fourth consecutive “round”: the possibility, in municipalities under five thousand inhabitants, to run again without “breaks” even after 15 years was in fact introduced this year to first time. Maffi, now forty years old, will however have to deal with another young man: Andrea Maffi, born in 1998, also a candidate for Gandosso.
The senior applications
On the opposite side, of the “senior” candidacies, we note Lodovico Locatelli, born in 1945, running (albeit alone: he will face the quorum) in Corna Imagna: he has already been mayor from 1999 to 2009, and today he is putting himself forward again age of 78 years. In general, there are a dozen “over 75s” who propose to lead their municipality. Then, in addition to age, there is the issue of “length of service”. And here the record undoubtedly goes to Giovanni Manzoni, who is proposing himself as mayor of Brumano for the seventh time, albeit not consecutively.
Monolist countries
There are 46 municipalities in total in which only one candidate for mayor and his team presented himself, including populous areas such as Brembate, Almenno San Bartolomeo, Telgate and Pedrengo. Five years ago there were forty “monolists”. An increase that confirms a certain difficulty, at least in some cases, in forming lists and finding candidates. It must be said, however, that those who have been mayors at least once, in many cases seem to find the desire and enthusiasm to continue: as many as 109 outgoing mayors, out of 164 municipalities, are re-nominated for a new five-year term with the tricolor sash.
