Young star on the rise

Stereotypical ambivalent and apathetic young people: Meet Amber Mariano.

She turned 21 on Oct. 18, and Mariano already sealed her first major go-getter accomplishment: youngest person ever in Florida to be elected to the state House.
Mariano, a Republican and the daughter of Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano, defeated incumbent State House Rep. Amanda Murphy, a Democrat, in the race for House District 36. The district covers a swath of west Pasco County and New Port Richey, just north of Pinellas County.

“This is a dream come true,” Mariano tells Coffee Talk. “Ever since I was a kid, 6 years old, I've wanted to be the first female president. Usually kids grow out of that. I never did.”