BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer

HOWELL - No, Councilman Robert Walsh has not unseated Mayor Joseph DiBella, but Walsh's teenage daughter recently stepped in for the mayor.

With the Township Council chambers playing host to Howell Middle School North's student government day celebration, participating students recently assumed roles and positions on the governing body. The students held a 30-minute mock meeting prior to a regular meeting of Howell's elected officials.

Walsh's daughter, Shannon, one-upped her father and served as mayor for the event. She also read an essay on government, to which her proud father said, "you know I can't write like that."

The students even managed a four-item agenda and discussed it just as their real-life counterparts would do.

Items on the agenda included more nutritional snack items for the school cafeteria and the construction of a teen center. Both issues sparked debate among the young politicians.

DiBella applauded their efforts.

"This is a unique event that most communities don't do," he said.

He described the event as a valuable experience and said, "it takes a lot of time and dedication to be in public service. It is important to instill those values and demonstrate that participating in