Students campaign for GOP in Township

With the New Jersey gubernatorial election less than a month away, the College Republicans have stepped up their efforts to elect two G.O.P. candidates to the Princeton Township Committee.

As College Republicans president Dylan Hogarty '06 observed, it's an "uphill climb" for Gordon Bryant and Tom Pyle '76, political neophytes running for office in a Democratic-leaning town.

"A Republican has not served on the township committee in the last decade," Hogarty said. "Just from a partisan standpoint, it won't be easy."

For the past three weeks, however, University student volunteers have canvassed township neighborhoods, speaking to residents and distributing literature.

As College Republicans co-campaign chair Sandeep Murthy '06 put it, "We just hit the ground running."

"Sometimes on Saturdays we'll go out and knock on doors and just introduce ourselves and tell them about the campaign," Hogarty said. "[Bryant and Pyle] are new to politics. They've never run for anything before."

Murthy said the motivation to become involved in this race came from previous experiences with the College Republicans.

"Last year, a number of students worked on Evan Baehr's ['05] Borough Council race," Murthy said. "He surpassed all expectations on election day and really challenged Princeton students to become more involved with issues concerning the surrounding community. We hope to build on that momentum, and supporting Gordon and Tom is a part of that effort."

Students were first introduced to the candidates at a College Republicans barbeque during freshman week. "I was impressed with the level of interest in local politics that many of them were exhibiting," Pyle said in a phone interview. "These were kids who not only come from New Jersey, but also Texas and California and many places far away."

Pyle said the students' commitment to local politics was clear from the start.

"I was impressed with their level of engagement," he said. "It was evident that they were concerned with the big issues and interested in being engaged in the process."

Hogarty said that, while the College Republicans have been involved in local campaigns before, Bryant and Pyle have welcomed their help to an unusual degree.

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"Most campaigns that you get involved in, you don't get to see the candidates that much," Hogarty said. "Here we get to have an impact on the whole campaign. That's a special opportunity for us."

Pyle noted the unique nature of this experience for Princeton students. "Our little campaign here in Princeton township offers an interesting opportunity for being involved in politics at the most basic level, dealing with some of the most basic issues like taxes and services," Pyle said.

Hogarty cited property taxes as a defining issue for the Republicans' campaign. He said property taxes in the township have increased "well above the rate of inflation."

"Many longtime Princeton residents can no longer afford to live here," he said. "Bryant and Pyle are suggesting that there is a different way to do things in the township."

Pyle, who graduated from the University with a history degree, is pleased to be able to interact again with the University to which he feels "very connected."

"That is one of the reasons I feel particularly pleased that I am able to receive some support from a bright bunch of kids," Pyle said.

Despite the Democrats' edge in party registration, Hogarty said he remains hopeful that the tax issue will carry Bryant and Pyle to victory. "It's definitely a winnable election," he said.