'He's going to help change the world'

Despite his young age, Taylor Thompson of Cape Girardeau is already on the national political stage.

Thompson, who recently turned 24, graduated from Notre Dame Regional High School in 2011 and now is the deputy operations director for presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's Nevada Coordinated campaign.

He said he prefers not to think of his role as a leadership position, however.

"I'm just lucky to be part of a team of talented, hardworking individuals who are dedicated to electing Hillary Clinton to the White House and sending Catherine Cortez Masto to the United States Senate to work with her," Thompson wrote in an email to the Southeast Missourian.

To Thompson, who has a degree in communications from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, being on a stage -- political or otherwise -- is nothing new.

Taylor Thompson poses with a group working for Hillary Clinton's Nevada Coordinated campaign.Submitted photo

Throughout his time at Notre Dame, he acted in theater arts productions when he wasn't doing volunteer work or helping at his uncle's restaurant downtown.

His friend, former theater teacher and longtime sounding board, Cindy King, said she's not surprised by how quickly Thompson has progressed in the political arena because of how passionate he is about policy issues -- and the human condition in general.

"When I talk with him, I forget how young he is; I just know how enthusiastic he is," King said. "He's someone who's going to help change the world."

Thompson said he chose to get into politics because public service has been an important aspect of his life.

Now he's channeling that in his work for the Clinton campaign, just as he did when he interned for the Missouri State Legislature and the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C.

"I grew up in a heavily Catholic environment, from grade school through high school, and one of the main values instilled in me through that education was servant leadership," he said. "Above the doors of Notre Dame is the quote, 'Enter to learn; leave to serve.' That quote has stuck with me since my first day of high school and has been a huge part of my life outlook."

His grandmother's influence also informs Thompson's choices now.

"From sixth grade through high school, my grandmother and I would spend every Monday and Wednesday during the summers volunteering at the Cape Girardeau Senior Center," he said.

Susan McClanahan, the center's administrator, said Thompson was a valuable volunteer because he was never afraid to multitask, whether that meant helping prepare meals in the kitchen or delivering them to the homebound.

He also was a favorite among the center's clientele.

"Our clients enjoyed him; our employees enjoyed him," McClanahan said. "They hated to see him graduate."

Now, as he works for the U.S. senator's presidential campaign, Thompson is happy to show his support for the person he said is best suited for the role.

"Hillary Clinton is simply the most qualified person to ever seek the office of president," he said. "Her ability to work across the aisle, her attention to detail and thorough understanding of policy and her pragmatic progressivism are all reasons to vote for her."

ljones@semissourian.com

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