Sarkozy's son runs for office in posh fiefdom

Paris: America has the Bushes and the Clintons, so why not a Sarkozy dynasty in France? President Nicolas Sarkozy's 21-year-old son Jean, whose voice, vernacular and glad-handing verve eerily resemble those of his father, took a big step in that direction on Wednesday by launching a bid for local office.

Jean Sarkozy is running for a seat in the chic Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, the same town where his father launched his political career more than three decades ago - at age 22 - and later served as mayor for 19 years.

He will run for election in a "canton" - the smallest administrative segment in France - in south Neuilly as part of local contests across France on March 9 and March 16.

A win would give the junior Sarkozy a seat on the council for the Hauts-de-Seine department, which groups the southwestern Paris suburbs.

Jean told a French daily that he has "things to prove" and acknowledged speaking about his political intentions with his father - but said he did not get specific advice.

"It's not an appointment, it's a candidacy," Jean told the Le Figaro. "A risk to take, and a risk I accept."