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ATTLEBORO - Joseph Lazzerini is only 17 years old, but already he knows his future lies in politics.

In fact, the Attleboro High School junior is planning to run for city council next year.

Lazzerini - who will turn 18 in February - said he wants to serve on the council to help the city get its high school rebuilt, clean up downtown and improve South Attleboro.

He said he believes voters will be open to his candidacy because they have has shown, by electing Kevin Dumas mayor, that they like young people in city government. Dumas was 27 years old when he was elected mayor.

Attleboro last elected a teenager in the 1980s when Brian Dubuc was elected to the council. Lazzerini is already getting his feet wet in politics.

He has formed a Young Democrats Club at the high school and is serving as the youth coordinator for City Councilor William Bowles's race for state representative.

He said he will try to attract young voters to the Bowles campaign by using Internet sites like Facebook and MySpace.

He also formed a club called Kids Are People Too which does community service projects, like cleaning up around Lees Pond in South Attleboro and has raised money for Hasbro Children's Hospital.

Lazzerini said some of his interest in politics comes from the journalism course he takes at Attleboro High.

The idea of running for city council first came to him when former Council President Carolyn Tedino heard about his work for Kids Are People Too and told him he could have a career in politics.

The city election is still 19 months away, but Lazzerini said he is determined to see his candidacy through.

He has taken the first step, getting the endorsement of his parents.

At first, he said, they thought he was too young, but once he explained his passion to improve the city, they said they would back him all the way.