As a journalist, it’s nice when a surprise arrives, such as learning someone served in public office as a teenager. Several months ago, Association of Business and Industry President Mike Ralston kindly met for coffee to give me a crash course in what the organization does and what businesses are in its membership. We discovered we are both from northeast Iowa. Ralston hails from Grundy Center. Here’s where the surprise came in. While studying at the University of Northern Iowa, he sought the mayor’s job in his hometown. He won, at age 18. He was re-elected several times. Since then, Ralston has worked for different companies and organizations, including Qwest and being appointed the director of the state Department of Revenue by then-Gov. Tom Vilsack. “I was 18 when I was first elected and I am 59 now, so if my math is correct, that is like a hundred years ago,” Ralston emailed when I explained I’d like to share his mayoral history. Grundy Center now has a population of about 2,700. ABI has 1,500 member businesses that represent 330,000 Iowans, according to its website.