ELLSWORTH – Ian Engdahl just turned 18 and will vote next week for the first time in a general election.

It’s no big deal, though. His voice already is being heard in Augusta.

Engdahl, a senior at Winthrop High School, is one of 16 members of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, or LYAC, who along with four supervising members of the state Legislature speak on behalf of issues affecting Maine’s youth.

While the next session of the state Legislature doesn’t begin until January 2007, LYAC, which has the authority to introduce legislation, is busy putting together a laundry list to bring to the State House.

“They truly do want to hear what we have to say,” Engdahl said Thursday, referring to Maine’s senators and representatives. “All you have to do is be willing to speak up.”

Engdahl and other members of LYAC were at Ellsworth High School on Thursday to host the first of two public forums. The second will be held on Nov. 14 in Kennebunk.

The goal of the sessions is to gather information about civic issues affecting Maine’s youth and then put together a report that will be presented to the Legislature in January.

“We’re hoping students can bring up specific issues or problems that they’ve faced,” Engdahl said. “A lot of youth don’t think they can make a difference, but since I’ve been involved [with LYAC], I’ve found that’s just not true.”

About 60 students from high schools all over eastern Maine – including George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, Narraguagus High School of Harrington, Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield and Hampden Academy – attended Thursday’s forum.

A large contingent of Ellsworth High School students was present as well.

“It’s great that we have this opportunity. I wish there could be more like it,” said Ryan Martin, an Ellsworth senior and state president of the Maine Association of Student Councils. “That might be like asking a genie for more wishes, but we’re trying hard to encourage more involvement.”

Ellsworth High School Principal William Connors said it was a privilege for his school to be able to host the LYAC forum.

“They called and asked me about it, and I jumped at the chance,” he said.

The hot topics of discussion at Thursday’s session were school bullying, safety and nutrition, but Engdahl said LYAC’s goals extend beyond school walls.

“We talk a lot about social issues like suicide prevention and alcohol abuse,” he said. “We just want to expand the scope of civic engagement among young people.”

Heather Pratt, a senior at Cony High School in Augusta, has been a member of LYAC since last October. She led the discussion on nutrition in schools, a topic she said already has come up at Cony.

“Our student council voted to ban french fries and we’re looking at other changes to the food policies,” she said.

Pratt said being involved with the governing process has opened her eyes.

“I never used to think so, but adults really are interested in what we have to say,” she said. “The people that we’ve talked to in the Legislature, they actually listen.”

LYAC has been in place for about five years, and Maine was the first state in the U.S. to establish a youth council that has the authority to push legislation.