Svante Myrick
/ File photo
ITHACA, TOMPKINS CO. -- He is only 24-years-old, one of the youngest mayors in the country, and he happens to be at the helm of a Central New York community.
Svante Myrick currently serves as the mayor of Ithaca in Tompkins County. Parts of his childhood were spent homeless and on food stamps. Now, he finds himself as a rising star in the local world of politics.
Tonight, Myrick will be featured on NBC's Rock Center. NBC's Kate Snow will profile the new young mayor who is inspiring others with his life story.
The Cornell University graduate started serving on Ithaca's City Council while he was still in college. His childhood in Earlville in Madison County was filled with uncertainty, being homeless at times when he was young. He is the son of an African American father and a white mother, but was raised by his mom and grandparents.
His upbringing and early political success has drawn comparisons to President Barack Obama. While Myrick shies away from the comparison, he acknowledges that the president did inspire him. "Well, if this, you know, guy with that name and those ears can do it, then a guy with this name and these ears can do it," Myrick said.
Watch Kate Snow's full story, 'Mr. Mayor,' tonight at 9 p.m. on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.
Information from NBC News used in this article.
