For years, Princeton alumni have been known for their commitments in the nation's service and in the service of all nations.
At least two alumni this week have strived to uphold that motto by running for political office in the United States and Canada.
In recent elections, one University alumnus has already fallen in California while another awaits his fate in Ontario.
In what has turned out to be one of the most hotly contested primaries in recent California history, Richard Riordan '52 lost in a close election to fellow Republican candidate Bill Simon on Tuesday. Riordan, who was mayor of Los Angeles for eight years, announced months ago that he would run for governor of California.
Initially the heavy favorite to win the Republican nod, holding a 40-point lead last September, Riordan faced the primaries with a target on his back.
He had received an indirect endorsement from President Bush, the Los Angeles Times reported, and it seemed as though Riordan would capture the primary and face democratic Gov. Gray Davis in November.
But as the primaries reached their final month, Davis began to take a more active role in the outcome. Davis launched a publicity assault on Riordan, spending more than $9 million on television ads, according to an article in The New York Times.
Riordan, who is a moderate conservative, likely posed more of a threat to Davis's re-election than the more right-wing Simon, The New York Times reported.
As the election neared, the gap between Riordan and Simon began to shrink, with Simon leading by as much as 10 points the week before the election.
In his concession speech, Riordan vowed to expand the vision of the Republican party and stressed the power of inclusion.
Both Riordan and Simon were unavailable for comment.
Ontario premiership
Meanwhile in Canada, running to be premier of Ontario and leader of the Ontario PC Party, Jim Flaherty '70 has been fighting an uphill battle.
Initially a distant third, Flaherty is now a "strong second," said his campaign chair Jaime Watt, who is also the father of Heather Watt '05.
"The campaign's going great," Watt said. "He started pretty far back, but now he's a strong second and closing in on first."
But Flaherty is still 10 points back in the polls with less than three weeks remaining, Watt said. Ernie Eves is currently first in the polls.
The election for leader of the Ontario PC Party will occur March 23, with the winner automatically becoming premier as the head of the ruling party. All members of the PC party in Ontario — a number totaling 105,000 — are eligible to vote.
Flaherty is running as a conservative and "a true inheritor of [current Premier] Mike Harris," Watt said.
Flaherty is running on a platform of reducing the size of government and taxes, adopting the strategy in "cleaning up Toronto" and barring teachers from striking, Watt said.
"I don't think he has very creative solutions to social problems," said Hugh Meighen '05, a resident of Toronto who is planning on voting for another candidate. "His financial plan is creative . . . but I don't trust him as a leader."
An elected official since 1995, Flaherty has been minister of labor, attorney general, minister of corrections and most recently deputy premier and minister of finance.
A hockey player during his time at the University, "Flaherty was very much formed by his Princeton experience," Watt said.
Flaherty was a financial aid student and says Princeton is the foundation of the person he became.
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