Raanana's Municipal Youth Council has elected its new leaders for 2008, in a close election held at the Hamartef Club.  All youth council representatives of the city's student councils of the middle and high schools and representatives of the city's youth movements participated in the elections.  Each candidate presented his election platform and a Q & A panel was held before the election.

11th grade Ostrovsky student, Maayan Yochai was elected as chairperson.  Maayan is active in the Mahanot Olim youth movement.  10th grade Mor Metrowest student, Sagi Golan, who serves as a counselor in the city's MADATZIM organization, was elected spokesman.  His deputies will be Natalie Samuel, a 10th grade Aviv student and counselor in the MADATZIM, and Daniel Alkalai (Dantzi) active in many of the city's volunteer organizations.

Mayor Nahum Hofree:  "Youth Council activity expresses society's and the community's democratic values and we place great importance upon instilling these values in our young people, as well as fostering leadership development.  Today's young people are the leaders of the future and I am certain that fruitful cooperation between the municipality and the youth representatives will continue on behalf of the city's youth, in order to create quality leisure and entertainment frameworks and to promote their interests and needs."

Deputy Mayor Ronit Weintraub, in charge of youth and leisure:  "The Municipal Youth Council, the most important body working on behalf of the city's youth, promotes their interests and needs, while maintaining democratic values, encouraging ongoing leadership and social and community involvement.  I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Noga Gur-Aryeh and the outgoing leadership team for their many years of activity and leadership, genuine contribution and work on behalf of the city's youth."

In coming chairperson, Maayan Yochai:  "The Youth Council will work to place Raanana's youth at top of the city's agenda, to help express the youth's voice in the city, to enrich and develop Raanana's leisure time for its youth."