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The Brigham Young University-Idaho College Republicans will send
148 student volunteers to campaign from November 4 to November 8
for Republican Jerry Kilgore in Virginia who is running for
governor in elections on November 8.
When the Republican National Committee sent out information
regarding the need for 500 volunteers to assist with
campaigning, the BYU-Idaho College Republicans recognized an
opportunity to get more involved and improve their newly
organized society.
“We had dramatic response from students,” Tanner Nielsen,
co-president of BYU-Idaho College Republicans, said. “We had
over 190 students interested, but the National Committee said we
could only take as many students as would fit in one plane out
of Salt Lake City. With 148 students participating, we’re
providing a majority of the volunteers.”
Daniel Call, co-president of BYU-Idaho College Republicans,
said, “This makes a huge statement that BYU-Idaho is politically
involved.”
According to Nielsen, who volunteered last year, students’
responsibilities will include a door-to-door approach
encouraging Republican citizens to register and vote, informing
when and where to vote and providing facts about the candidate.
“The students who go and participate in this are going to come
back with a more positive image of the political process,”
Nielsen said. “This is a great missionary experience and
opportunity to show the community that as members of the Church,
we’re active in politics.”
Last year, BYU-Idaho College Republicans sent six volunteers to
campaign in southern Colorado. “The Republican National
Committee was impressed by the six students from last year,
because we put a full day’s work in. We didn’t drink or party
late in the evenings so we were rested the next morning,”
Nielsen said.
Call, who plans to run for governor of Minnesota someday, is
“excited to meet lots of people and rub shoulders with contacts
for my future race. I’m expecting to make a difference since
this is a very important race.”
From this experience, Nielsen feels students will be more
willing to devote their time, energy and talents in local and
state government. |