Friday, July 29, 2005
Jerry Schwab of Oxford : Resident Named CYR Chairman
By: Leda Quirke
VoicesNews.com
July 29, 2005
OXFORD - At the age of 25, Jerry Schwab has achieved more than many men twice his age.
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He is executive director of the Oxford Ambulance Association. He is vice chairman of the Board of Education and a member of both the Oxford Republican Town Committee and the Republican State Central Committee.
Lately, he has been serving as moderator at town meetings as well.
Recently he added another achievement to his growing resume. He was voted unanimously to the position of chairman of the Connecticut Young Republicans.
The CYR is an organization of between 200 and 300 Republican men and women between the ages of 18 and 40, many of whom also are members of Young Republican Clubs in their own municipalities.
The function of the CYR is primarily to support the Republican party in its election campaigns.
Mr. Schwab said he first became involved in a local Young Republican Club at the urging of Robert DeBisschop, a Republican and fellow school board member who has held many offices in town over the last several decades.
Mr. Schwab said many seasoned Republicans, like Mr. DeBisschop, were members of Young Republican Clubs at one time.
"I've always been interested in politics," said Mr. Schwab when asked why he decided to get actively involved with a political party.
He said the inclination was heightened after he was elected to the school board two years ago. It was over the last two years that he learned how much municipalities are impacted by the state, especially with respect to special education, economics and binding arbitration.
"That's what sparked my interest in becoming involved," he said.
In his role as chairman of the CYR, Mr. Schwab said he will have an opportunity to promote the party's philosophy, help in elections and educate younger people about the process.
Mr. Schwab said he intends call meetings monthly and to initiate campaigns to increase membership.
Toward that end, he said he would contact every town committee chairman in the state and urge them to appoint representatives so at all Connecticut towns are represented.
For those towns which don't have Young Republican Clubs, he said he would provide information on how to create them.
Moreover, he said he would try to network with college-age Republicans at colleges and universities that have political clubs.
Ideally, he would like to enlist five vice chairmen for the CYR, one from each Congressional district.
Young people can really make a difference in the political world, Mr. Schwab noted.
"Typically younger people have more free time to put into grass roots campaigning. They don't have as many family commitments," he said.
Mr. Schwab said the CYR, under his leadership, will most likely focus first on two or three municipal elections and then gear up for next year's gubernatorial contest.
As for long-range political goals, Mr. Schwab said he would wait and see where the road takes him. He said he definitely might consider running for state representative some day.
"I wouldn't rule anything out," he said.
For now, however, he is focusing on making a decision on whether or not to run for reelection to the school board or some other local office.
Also, he will represent the state in the Young Republicans National Federation Convention in Las Vegas, scheduled July 6-10.
VoicesNews.com
July 29, 2005
OXFORD - At the age of 25, Jerry Schwab has achieved more than many men twice his age.
Advertisement
He is executive director of the Oxford Ambulance Association. He is vice chairman of the Board of Education and a member of both the Oxford Republican Town Committee and the Republican State Central Committee.
Lately, he has been serving as moderator at town meetings as well.
Recently he added another achievement to his growing resume. He was voted unanimously to the position of chairman of the Connecticut Young Republicans.
The CYR is an organization of between 200 and 300 Republican men and women between the ages of 18 and 40, many of whom also are members of Young Republican Clubs in their own municipalities.
The function of the CYR is primarily to support the Republican party in its election campaigns.
Mr. Schwab said he first became involved in a local Young Republican Club at the urging of Robert DeBisschop, a Republican and fellow school board member who has held many offices in town over the last several decades.
Mr. Schwab said many seasoned Republicans, like Mr. DeBisschop, were members of Young Republican Clubs at one time.
"I've always been interested in politics," said Mr. Schwab when asked why he decided to get actively involved with a political party.
He said the inclination was heightened after he was elected to the school board two years ago. It was over the last two years that he learned how much municipalities are impacted by the state, especially with respect to special education, economics and binding arbitration.
"That's what sparked my interest in becoming involved," he said.
In his role as chairman of the CYR, Mr. Schwab said he will have an opportunity to promote the party's philosophy, help in elections and educate younger people about the process.
Mr. Schwab said he intends call meetings monthly and to initiate campaigns to increase membership.
Toward that end, he said he would contact every town committee chairman in the state and urge them to appoint representatives so at all Connecticut towns are represented.
For those towns which don't have Young Republican Clubs, he said he would provide information on how to create them.
Moreover, he said he would try to network with college-age Republicans at colleges and universities that have political clubs.
Ideally, he would like to enlist five vice chairmen for the CYR, one from each Congressional district.
Young people can really make a difference in the political world, Mr. Schwab noted.
"Typically younger people have more free time to put into grass roots campaigning. They don't have as many family commitments," he said.
Mr. Schwab said the CYR, under his leadership, will most likely focus first on two or three municipal elections and then gear up for next year's gubernatorial contest.
As for long-range political goals, Mr. Schwab said he would wait and see where the road takes him. He said he definitely might consider running for state representative some day.
"I wouldn't rule anything out," he said.
For now, however, he is focusing on making a decision on whether or not to run for reelection to the school board or some other local office.
Also, he will represent the state in the Young Republicans National Federation Convention in Las Vegas, scheduled July 6-10.
# posted by YR Blog Administrator @ 4:06 PM 
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Citizen Boise - Mike Willits
CitizenBoise - Mike WillitsBoiseWeekly.com
July 20, 2005
A self-proclaimed "political hack," Mike Willits credits his conservative chutzpah to an ice cream date with Dirk Kempthorne back in 1992. Since then, he has served as student body president of Idaho State University, state chairman of the College Republicans, chairman of the Idaho Young Republican Federation and organizer of a "YR scream-off" in honor of Howard Dean.
BW: How did you get your start in politics?
MW: My future wife and I founded an organization in high school called T.A.R.-Teenage
Republicans. It's a terrible acronym.
Yeah-since when is teenage two words?
(Laughs) When Kempthorne was Mayor of Boise, he toured Eastern Idaho, and I arranged for him to stop at our high school and speak. We went to Me & Stan's in Rigby for ice cream, the two of us and Dirk. He was instrumental in encouraging us to be involved in politics. That's the fun thing about Idaho. I had ice cream with the future governor of the state-me, living in a single-wide in Menan.
Were you born Republican?
I'm a fifth-generation Idahoan, and my family has always had a strong sense of patriotic duty. My ancestor was the first senator from Idaho; my great-grandfather served two terms in the Idaho Legislature; and my grandpa ran as a Democrat for county assessor and lost to a Republican! So I guess you could say it's in my blood.
What is a "young" Republican?
Anyone 18-40 years old, though it tends to be the 25-35 crowd. We have about 500 members statewide, including young professionals, farmers and other folks. The demographic is pretty reflective of Idaho.
You know how some heterosexuals like to advertise that they have gay friends? Do you talk about your Democrat friends the same way?
(Laughs again) I depend on my Democrat friends to keep me on the straight and narrow. I like to understand both sides of an issue, and they challenge me to question how I really feel about things.
You mentioned that the new Republican Party has a "forward-thinking" vision, but I wouldn't describe your party's platform as progressive.
We're dealing with our issues progressively-education, Social Security reform, the governor's initiative on roads-all are "conservative" ideas, but we're looking toward the future with a plan to keep government small and out of the people's way so they can create their own future.
What about the Terry Schiavo debacle? Wouldn't you say the government "got in the way" on that one?
Terry Schiavo should have been a family decision. The government should be what the founding fathers intended-common defenders and promoters of general welfare. IYR wants to get more people involved and educated on such issues. My biggest advice is to pick what you're passionate about and go out and get involved. I don't care if it's young Democrats or young Republicans, make your voices heard, don't take no for an answer and don't be afraid of what you don't know.
# posted by YR Blog Administrator @ 6:12 PM
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
INSIDE POLITICS - Young Republicans
By Greg Pierce
July 13, 2005
The Young Republican National Federation Inc., which some members complain has spent more time partying than party building, held its national convention last weekend in swinging Las Vegas, but pledged to reform the organization's image -- and get serious about working with the Republican National Committee (RNC) to win elections.
"We're going to rebuild the credibility of this organization," Nicolee Ambrose, the new chairwoman of the federation, told Ralph Z. Hallow of The Washington Times. "That was the whole point of this election."
Jessica Benkovic Colon, the chairwoman of the Houston Young Republicans who does marketing for a global real estate firm, says the federation "wasn't communicating very well" with its local chapters about coordinating with the RNC on national elections. The federation seemed to be in the dark about a lot of things, including membership.
Mrs. Ambrose, who is also chairwoman of the Maryland Young Republicans, said she thinks the group has "tens of thousands" of young, activist professionals as members, in cities and counties nationwide. But she says she can't be sure.
"We're lawyers, real estate people, ranchers, soldiers, but we don't know our real numbers because we don't have a way to tally them at the national level," said Mrs. Ambrose, who was unanimously elected national chairwoman.
"That will change, and we'll be able to give you the exact numbers," she promised. The group is open to Republicans age 40 or younger.
July 13, 2005
The Young Republican National Federation Inc., which some members complain has spent more time partying than party building, held its national convention last weekend in swinging Las Vegas, but pledged to reform the organization's image -- and get serious about working with the Republican National Committee (RNC) to win elections.
"We're going to rebuild the credibility of this organization," Nicolee Ambrose, the new chairwoman of the federation, told Ralph Z. Hallow of The Washington Times. "That was the whole point of this election."
Jessica Benkovic Colon, the chairwoman of the Houston Young Republicans who does marketing for a global real estate firm, says the federation "wasn't communicating very well" with its local chapters about coordinating with the RNC on national elections. The federation seemed to be in the dark about a lot of things, including membership.
Mrs. Ambrose, who is also chairwoman of the Maryland Young Republicans, said she thinks the group has "tens of thousands" of young, activist professionals as members, in cities and counties nationwide. But she says she can't be sure.
"We're lawyers, real estate people, ranchers, soldiers, but we don't know our real numbers because we don't have a way to tally them at the national level," said Mrs. Ambrose, who was unanimously elected national chairwoman.
"That will change, and we'll be able to give you the exact numbers," she promised. The group is open to Republicans age 40 or younger.
# posted by YR Blog Administrator @ 4:35 PM
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Young Republicans give out scholarships
Published in the Asbury Park Press 06/30/05
By Joe Zedalis
TOMS RIVER: The Ocean County Young Republicans Club awarded two scholarships to graduating Ocean County high school seniors.Miquel A. Garces Jr., from New Egypt High School, who plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall and major in international relations, received a $1,000 scholarship.Sara Dickhaus, from Central Regional High School, Berkeley, who plans to attend Wellesley and major in political science, received a $500 scholarship.
By Joe Zedalis
TOMS RIVER: The Ocean County Young Republicans Club awarded two scholarships to graduating Ocean County high school seniors.Miquel A. Garces Jr., from New Egypt High School, who plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall and major in international relations, received a $1,000 scholarship.Sara Dickhaus, from Central Regional High School, Berkeley, who plans to attend Wellesley and major in political science, received a $500 scholarship.
# posted by YR Blog Administrator @ 5:14 PM
