Ben Arsenault, a student at Plymouth State University, was in his kitchen preparing for work when his mother, Beth, asked him when he was moving back to Plymouth. He will be entering his senior year as a political science major, though he might be taking a year off — to work on his campaign for his election to the state House of Representatives.

Arsenault will run for the House this November, hoping to join his mother and grandmother in the statehouse and bring some new ideas to state government.

He will celebrate his 21st birthday in September and will continue to live in Plymouth, a location more convenient to his job as the campaign manager for Sen. Deb Reynolds' reelection bid. His focus will also be on his own campaign for the statehouse and that, combined with his campaign for Reynolds, has lead him to consider taking some time off from school.

Arsenault's grandmother, Judy Reever, is also a state representative as is his mother, Beth Arsenault. His election would put three generations of family members in the House.

Arsenault takes a great interest in politics, switching majors from childhood studies to political science in his junior year at PSU.

His family's role in politics has also been a strong influence. His older brother, Tim, is also involved with the Democratic party, currently working for the Barack Obama campaign and having run for the House in 2004.

Another influence was seeing Bill and Hillary Clinton and several other Democratic players at a rally in Washington, D.C., where he once lived when he was a fourth grader.

"I just felt like I can bring a new perspective to the New Hampshire House," he said.

Arsenault filed for candidacy in June and said he has been planning to run for the past year. The most exposure he has gotten to the Statehouse so far has been visits with his mother and grandmother in their offices.

He is currently the president of the PSU Democrats, which he has been a member of since his junior year. Just this week he started his job as Reynold's campaign manager, though he will spend a few more days at his old job as a paper carrier for The Citizen.

While his peers have not been too involved in his campaign, Arsenault said he has received much campaign assistance from his girlfriend, who is related to a past mayor of Laconia and the current mayor of her home city in Massachusetts. The two met through the PSU Democrats and she is heavily involved with politics.

Arsenault's major issues include education, especially defining adequacy.

"I'd really like to see a lot more money go to the schools," he said — money that could especially go to repair schools such as his alma mater, Laconia High School.

He also wants to see expanded public transportation services for the state, as most state residents need cars to travel and public transportation "would lessen the impact on the environment."

"I really have an urge to help people out," he said, saying he knows many people who have been through state systems, such as foster care, and wants there to be further help for people.

Helping keep young people in the state is also a goal, as he said he knows many of his peers do not stay in New Hampshire

Arsenault was born in Frankfurt, Germany, where his father was stationed while serving in the U.S. Army. His father's army service resulted in his residence in various locations, including Wisconsin, Las Vegas and Tacoma, Wash.

He did live for a period in Laconia before his father was stationed in another area, though the family, including his two other siblings Matt and John, returned to Laconia permanently nearly 11 years ago when his father retired.

Ever since his mother first ran for the Laconia School Board "we were kind of her little army of political workers,' he said. "Go out, canvas, make phone calls.

Arsenault said while he has yet to hear any negative responses to his campaign, he is aware he might be criticized for his lack of experience.

"Out of 400 representatives I think it's fair to have somebody who's a little less experienced," he said. "I think I can bring a different perspective, a fresh look at old problems and new problems there. I feel like I am at a place where can take in various ideas and kind of expand them, I think I have a pretty good head on my shoulders to come up with a solution."