JYR taps conservative message, sets national standard

By Kay B. Day

Peret Pass, vice-president of Jacksonville Young Republicans, with former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.The conservative message is in good hands with the next generation in Jacksonville (Fla.), and one big influencer is the Jacksonville Young Republicans group. I’ve met a number of the 897 members in the Facebook group and covered a JYR event or two.

So I was delighted to receive an email from the JYR current vice-president Peret Pass about accolades the JYR received at the Florida Federation of Young Republicans convention. The NE Florida club sets a high standard for clubs across the US.

JYR racked up a number of awards and honors. The club was named Club of the Year, for one thing. “We were the biggest delegation and are the biggest club in the state,” said Pass.

JYR also received the Charitable/Community Service Event of the Year Award.

Pass was selected as Woman of the Year, and she was also elected National Committeewoman of the Year.

That latter designation means she’ll be the representative for young Republicans at national events.

Robbie Foster, external political affairs director for JYR, was elected executive director of the FFYR.

Joshua Cockrell, treasurer for the JYR, was elected as Region 3 (North Fla.) co-chair.

Often when politics and youth are mentioned together, people think of Democrats. On the Facebook page for young Democrats in Jax, 238 people have clicked a thumbs-up for ‘like’ the page.

Pass seems to never stop. I sat by her recently at a political gathering and thought to myself she was in the same boat I’m in. When I go to something like that, I’m working—taking notes, trolling for quotes, writing down observations, snapping photos. She was working her phone and chatting up politics with various attendees, and it was obvious her brain is in hyperdrive.

Robbie Foster was also at the meeting and he is sure to be a driving influence in marshalling Florida’s youth to make an impact on elections in 2010 and 2012.

Jeremiah Whitson is president of the group.

These young people see the impact of liberal fiscal policy and big government, and in a sense, they’re fighting for their futures.

I saw a note from another area Republican I’ve met several times, Sam Newby. Newby is chairman of the Florida Assembly of Black Republicans; he’s also 2nd vice chair of the Duval County GOP.

I mention Newby because I used information from the news release he put out to congratulate the JYR on their success.

I’ve often said Jax should be a model for the nation when it comes to the GOP. The same could be said of the Jacksonville Young Republicans. They don’t just talk about politics, they work to educate the community and they’ve also participated in numerous community events. Among those efforts are HabiJax, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, local blood drives and events at Hubbard House. The group also raised $3,000 for cancer research.

Youth are tapping the conservative message in the nation’s largest city in land area in the US. It benefits the community and it also gives their generation an edge in self-survival because their security is jeopardized by current runaway government spending.

The US Report salutes all the members of the Jacksonville Young Republicans. Obviously these young people do good work(s).

Hopefully clubs across the nation will emulate the standard set by young Republicans in NE Florida.