In four years, Barack Obama has gone from a little-known state senator in Illinois to President-elect of the United States.

His inspiring speeches and JFK-esque charisma captured the hearts of the electorate down south (excluding the American south), as he will be the first African-American to hold the presidency.

Obama and the Democrats capitalized on the dissatisfaction most Americans had with President Bush and the Republicans to catapult themselves into office.

Not too many political figures in North America can play to a crowd of 50,000 anymore -- well, other than Al Gore at the ridiculously self-aggrandizing Live Earth concert -- but Obama was just as smooth in front of 84 people as he was in front of the 84,000 supporters who filled Invesco Field in Denver two months ago when he accepted the Democratic nomination for the presidency.

Most importantly for the people of my generation, Obama has done something that few politicians have been able to: he got young people excited about voting.

As a Canadian, but more importantly, a voter, I'd like to know: Where's our Obama?

Having been through a pointless federal election that did little to quell the growing apathy of Canadian voters, and an upcoming civic election that's been slightly less exciting than Aerosmith post-rehab -- save for one incredibly myopic comment by a perspective Surrey school trustee who said the rights of union workers trump those of special needs students -- I'm concerned about where our future leaders are coming from, or if they're coming at all.

There are two candidates running in the Surrey civic election who caught my eye, mostly because they fall into my age bracket. Paul Hillsdon, a recent high school graduate who has a popular blog dealing with issues across the city, and Stephanie Ryan, a recent university grad and community activist, who, in the interest of full disclosure, attended the same high school as me (her family were the only ones in the neighbourhood with NDP lawn signs).

Both are well-spoken, with Ryan coming off as more polished, as she has extensive experience in student government, but Hillsdon made a splash recently with his advocacy for light rail around the city.

I admire both in their quest for elected office, but if Surrey voters know anything, it's consistency, no matter how incompetent the people they elect turn out to be. Both have a tough road ahead of them, as incumbents losing in civic elections is rare, mostly because civic politicians know the few people who care enough to vote in their elections, and make sure to take care of their own.

That said, I hope they win, because if there's any city council that needs a makeover, it's Surrey. New ideas never hurt anybody.