From left, Clayton Black’s parents Darrin and Molly Black join pose for a photo with their son and State Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon. Clayton Black completed an internship with Indiana House Republicans this spring and began service as a Governor’s Fellow Monday.
Submitted photo
During his senior year at Franklin College, he juggled a bit more the usual workload for a student: exams, papers, an internship at the Indiana Statehouse and a run for Franklin City Council.
Clayton Black, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in political science, was ultimately unsuccessful in his first run for office this spring, but he won’t let that deter him. Instead, he’s building on his resume, which includes stints as an intern for U.S. Rep Greg Pence, R-Indiana, in his D.C. office and the Indiana Republican Party for the “Get Out the Vote” campaign in 2022. Most recently, Black accepted an offer to serve as a Governor’s Fellow. During the yearlong fellowship, he will work with several state agencies and assist Gov. Eric Holcomb on various projects, Black said.
“I’ve been able to talk about the fellowship with our alumni network and those who have worked in government and the state as well,” he said. “There’s a lot in store for me. I’m expecting a lot of hard work, but the knowledge I’ll gain from the fellowship and networking capabilities will be astronomical. I’m looking forward to working with state employees and developing a relationship in state government.”
The journey to the governor’s fellowship has been six years in the making. Black’s first experience in politics was as a Franklin Community High School sophomore, when he served as one of the founding members of the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council. As a member of the council, he was able to sit in on Franklin City Council meetings and get a deeper understanding of the political process, he said.
“I sat on the organization for a couple of years, got involved with the city and developed a true passion and pride for Franklin that stuck with me through the years,” Black said. “When I graduated from Franklin Community High School, my parents had to move because my father’s job relocated to Ohio. I knew it wouldn’t be home for me. I had a lot of friends going to Franklin College, so I stayed in the community I cherish and call home.”
During college, Black ventured into politics further. Last summer, he spent an extended period of time away from home for the first time with his internship at Greg Pence’s office. There, he worked in constituent services, answering phone calls, helping with email correspondence and researching legislation. He was also able to participate in the National Conservative Student Conference, where he met former Vice President Mike Pence.
“It was a really, really neat experience living alone for the first time. I learned a lot from the congressional point of view, and working for Mike Pence’s older brother had its perks when it came to networking,” Black said. “I researched key pieces of legislation being discussed on the floor. One was our defense spending bill, there was a lot of reading involved and over 800 amendments. I learned a lot about the work staff members do in D.C. and it made me appreciate the work they do a lot more.”
His most recent internship with Indiana House Republicans may have been even more challenging, however, as he had to do it while wrapping up college and planning a political campaign, he said.
“The Indiana General Assembly does not function full-time, so everyone is on a big deadline and it’s crunch time trying to get a lot of stuff done,” Black said. “With the legislative session being a budgetary one, there was a lot to cram into four months, not only with legislative research but constituent services, helping out with the state, and if it was a federal issue helping out and contacting federal folks.”
With his experience in the political realm, Black decided to try his hand in the Republican primary for Franklin City Council this spring, ultimately coming up short to fellow candidates Shawn Taylor and Todd Shuck, who are unopposed during the general election Nov. 7. Black graduated high school in 2019, the year of the last municipal election, and said people at the time were encouraging him to run this year. He kept those suggestions in mind, and with a desire to help out in his hometown, he decided to run.
“I had a close friend serve as my treasurer to handle the financial aspects of the campaign, and it was a really cool experience being able to run my own campaign,” Black said. “I learned a lot from it and made sure to stay up-to-date on state laws on municipal elections. I would definitely call myself a young expert in running local campaigns.”
Despite coming up short, Black didn’t let the results stop his momentum.
“Everyone deals with self-doubt, but the best thing one can do is talk it out with close friends, especially those who helped my campaign out,” he said. “I wanted to win, but I know Franklin won’t suffer as a result. The two people that won love and appreciate Franklin and I’m super happy to see what they may do.”
Now he is onto the next chapter as a Governor’s Fellow, a role he started Monday and one he secured after a lengthy application process that included letters of recommendation, a resume and essay questions, Black said.
“Really, what I hope to gain from this experience is helping the governor out with whatever needs he may have as far as working with state agencies and whatever projects they may be working on,” Black said. “I also hope to gain a better understanding as to how the governor’s office operates and how it interacts with other branches, and how the state executive agencies work with other branches of state government.”
Black, who turns 23 on July 30, also hopes to serve as an inspiration to young people who don’t often see themselves represented in politics and government, he said.
“I hope I can be an example to show other young people that being involved in government is not a faraway reality to grasp or obtain. If you have the passion or motivation, you’re going to get it,” Black said. “I can say, based off other interns I worked with and other young people who have been involved in the political arena, young people realize you gotta get off your butt and get out there and do it.”
