Jarrett Ray: Hitting the ground running in Virginia

Earlier this month, while the CRNC was busy meeting in Denver, Virginia's College Republicans got together to pick a successor to Andrew Lamar. Jarrett Ray, a CR from James Madison, was elected to be the next Chairman of the College Republican Federation of Virginia, and he is the first of what will surely be many new faces on the national board in the next year. I recently had the chance to talk with Chairman Ray regarding his goals, vision, and ambitions for the upcoming year, and I, for one, came away very impressed with the newly-elected Chairman from Virginia. Enough of the blustering on, and on to what Ray had to say:

Red State Rampage: Congratulations on your recent election as CRFV Chairman. What is the top priority for you during your term as Chairman? What would you most like to accomplish in order to leave CRFV in better shape than you found it?

Jarrett Ray: My top priority is increasing the influence of Virginia's College Republican chapters. The newly elected board will keep this in mind as we lead the CRFV in 2007.

RSR: The man you are replacing, Andrew Lamar, is someone that was seen as a very solid State Chairman. What is one thing that you plan to continue from Andrew, and what is one thing that you will be changing from Andrew's tenure?

JR: Andrew Lamar was fantastic for Virginia and I am glad I can count him as a friend. I hope to maintain the image Andrew had with Virginia Republicans. Virginia's Republicans saw Andrew as the face of an organization that was both a volunteer base and also a group of committed conservatives looking to expand conservatism through many types of activism. I would like to continue the fantastic relationship Andrew shared with the Republican Party of Virginia and those who make up the party.
I would also like to expand this relationship. The College Republican Federation of Virginia will be behind several legislative policies which will be decided as a federation at our annual spring Issues Conference. College Republicans should not only help elect Republicans, they should also help shape the legislative policies of those whom they help elect. Young voters are often underrepresented, however, College Republicans are politically savvy individuals who by all account are prime examples of good citizens who vote and take an interest in the future of the community, the Commonwealth, and the country. The CRFV should attempt to promote this youthful activism and show politicians our age group can rally around common conservative causes.

RSR: I am sure, aside from calls of congratulations, you have already been asked to support someone in the upcoming CRNC elections. Have you made your pick yet, or are you still mulling it over? And, if you have chosen a candidate, who will be getting your support?

JR: A decision on who to lead such a respectable organization with over 100 years of tradition should properly be done over a drawn out period of time. It would be premature of me to presume I understand the CRNC and the candidates whom hope to lead it at this particular moment.

RSR: Virginia has a new GOP Chairman incoming as well in Ed Gillespie. I am sure you look forward to working with someone who has such great experience, but how will you attempt to work with the Virginia GOP to take back some of the ground Democrats have gained in the recent elections?

JR: Mr. Gillespie will be great for Virginia. His experience is unparalleled and the respect for him is unanimous among Virginians. The 2007 state elections are my priority. Working with Mr. Gillespie and the Republican Party of Virginia to target the competitive races and place volunteers appropriately will be the CRFV's primary responsibility. Virginia is very much a Red state and the results of the 2007 General Assembly elections will show it.

RSR: Obviously the Internet has completely changed the way political campaigns and organizations are run. How will you utilize technology to improve communications and public relations for CRFV? Are you looking into starting a blog or developing other methods of outreach through the Internet?

JR: The internet becomes increasingly important as a tool for public relations, activism, and recruitment due to the amount of time the average college student spends online. The CRFV is currently looking at starting an officially sanctioned blog. Beyond the blogosphere, tools such as Facebook and Myspace need to be utilized to increase awareness of College Republicans. The CRFV will also promote Operation Big Trunk. Chapters of all sizes should take advantage of the ability to create a free professional website that advertises their chapter.

RSR: As a College Republican, I can remember quite a few great events that I have been able to be a part of. What is your fondest memory of a CR event that you were involved in?

JR: Frankly the most fun I have ever had as a College Republican was crashing a Jim Webb rally and being interviewed by various media outlets the stump speech Webb gave. I was quoted several times as portraying Webb's economic plans as based on socialism. This condemnation of socialism in turn infuriated an elderly lady who wrote a letter to the editor of my local paper to complain that socialism pulled her and her family out of the Great Depression. Not once did the elderly lady deny that Webb believed in the positive power of socialism.

RSR: There are a couple of camps within College Republicans with regards to the role they should play: those who advocate a primary focus of campus activism and those who advocate direct involvement with candidates and campaigns. Do you fall into one of these camps, or do you think that CRs can fill both of these roles adequately?

JR: College Republicans should fulfill the role of being both campus activists and in leading aggressive grassroots efforts to secure Republican victory. The two roles can be theoretically exclusive. But I contend they are mutually beneficial. The school I attend, James Madison University, has a great relationship with our locally elected Republicans. We help them during their campaigns and they help grow our chapter. Conversely, campus activism has a positive and important role on campus of providing the sometimes sole voice of conservative thought. Campus activism also increases College Republicans presence on campus, which in turn increases membership. The CRFV will promote both types of involvement because they are both essential to running a successful chapter.

RSR: Best of luck this next year in Virginia, and we will look forward to hearing more great work coming out of Virginia.