Note to those planning rallies involving young adults: Never pick the morning after St. Patrick's Day.

Backers of a measure that would reduce the age required to run for state office from 25 to 18 learned that the hard way Sunday.

Members of the media outnumbered the five young people who gathered on the west steps of the state Capitol to support a resolution that will be introduced today in the House by Rep. Michael Garcia, D-Aurora.

"It's hard to force people out of bed on a Sunday," said Grace Lopez, with the majority communications office.

Organizer and University of Colorado student Drew Creasman, 20, admitted he hadn't thought about the impact the Irish holiday might have on the rally.

"I definitely think it might have had some effect," Creasman said.

Still, those who did show were passionate about their message. While some young people may have trouble rousing themselves after a night of revelry to attend a rally, there are those who are fit to serve in the Colorado General Assembly, they said.

To deny them that opportunity is equivalent to taxation without representation, Garcia said.

If the measure gets two-thirds approval in the House and Senate, it will be placed on the ballot in 2008. If the constitutional amendment is approved by voters, anyone 18 and older could run by 2010.

Garcia said Colorado is among only four states that require candidates to be older than the legal voting age.

Garcia said he was elected when he was 26. He recalled that a female legislator who was much older put her arm around him and said, "I understand you're new and you're young. If you need any help let me know."

Garcia said he quickly learned it should have been him putting his arm around the woman and offering to help her.

But those arguments won't sway the expected vote of Rep. Jeanne Labuda, D-Denver, who is against the change. She believes the state should follow the same rules as the U.S. Congress, which has an age limit of 25.

She said all she has to think about are her own daughters, ages 19 and 22.

"I look at them and they're very intelligent young women, very smart, but the maturity is just lacking," Labuda said. "I look at most college students, they're just too young."

An issue of age

• A resolution will be introduced in the House today to lower the age required to run for state office from 25 to 18.

• If two-thirds of the House and Senate approve, the idea would go to voters in 2008.

• If passed, people 18 and older could run for office by 2010.

poppenj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5176