John Jay College student chair New York City , State College - GOP

 
John Jay College student chair New York  City , State  College - GOP





By BEQIR SINA, 


DioGuardi: "State government is  closer  to the people and can provide most 
public services, like education  and  healthcare, more efficiently than 
Washington, which has become toobig,  unmanageable, and fiscally 
unsustainable."  




NEW YORK STATE : Marko Kepi and the  John Jay College  Republicans hosted 
the annual New York College Republican  State Committee  Convention last 
weekend. The convention had numerous  speakers from various  political 
organizations including the New Dawn PAC,  the Log Cabin Republicans,  the Be Heard 
PAC, and the National Black  Republican Association. A number of  student and 
fellow College Republican  leaders spoke as well, including Terrence  Grado 
from the College  Republican National Committee and Marko Kepi, President  
and founder of the  John Jay College Republicans.

This convention marked  the first time  in 3 years that the New York State 
College Republican Committee  had held a  statewide convention and was an 
excellent opportunity for College  Republicans to meet and network with one 
another, as well as with elected  officials. Over 15 schools were in 
attendance, including SUNY Buffalo,  Cornell,  and SUNY Binghamton. The schools in 
attendance represented every  region in New  York; Over 250 students and 
community members were in  attendance.

Friday  evening marked the start of the convention with  a get together 
hosted at the  National Women’s Republican Club. Here the  attendees were able 
to meet each  other, as well as some influential  Republicans from the New 
York City Area in an  informal, casual setting.  

Along with cloudy, overcast skies, Saturday  brought several  speeches from 
distinguished members of the political community.  Highlights  included 
Congressman Joe DioGuardi, Jay Townsend, Collin Schmitt, and  Assemblyman Ed Ra 
among others. In addition to these noted speakers were  debates  between 
candidates for Co-Chairman of the New York State College  Republican  
Committee, Christopher Catt and John Mantia and candidates for  Chairman of the  New 
York State College Republican Committee, Michael  Ventre and Eric Meyer. 


Former Congressman Joe DioGuardi told  attendees at the NYS College   
Republican Students Association that,  

"In Washington today we have a government  that  is spending money we don't 
have  and borrowing from counties,  like China,  that don't share our 
American democratic values.  This is  creating a  huge national debt on the next 
generation and is putting the  American dream in  jeopardy.  

Today  America is politically divided,  and therefore we  need political  
leadership to bring the country together  on major issues, such  as   
reducing our budget deficits and the national  debt and  investing in our 
infrastructure, education, energy independence,  and  innovative 
technology, to maintain our number  one position in the  global economy.  We need to 
go back to the limited government and  conservative philosophy of the 
founding fathers. We need to do a better  job of defining what the federal 
government should 
be doing versus the  States.  

State government is closer to the people and can  provide most  public 
services, like education and healthcare, more  efficiently than  Washington, 
which has become toobig, unmanageable, and  fiscally  unsustainable."


Joe DioGuardi, a Republican, told the  delegates that he was the  first 
practicing CPA elected to the U.S.  Congress.  He also spoke about his  roots 
as an Italian Albanian  (Arberesh), who founded the first (and only)  
Albanian lobby, the Albanian  American Civic League, in America to fight for the   
rights of  Albanians in Southeast Europe.

DioGuardi said that he  recently published an updated  version of his book, 
Unaccountable Congress:  It Doesn't Add Up, to warn  the American people 
about the lack of  fiscal responsibility, financial accountability, and 
transparency on Capitol  Hill.  He predicted bankruptcy  for the United States of 
America, if  we do not control our spending and reduce  the national debt.  

DioGuardi gave free copies of his book to all of the students attending  
the convention, and he signed the book and took photos with the many students  
who  requested them.




On Sunday, the closing day of  convention Michael Ventre, a student  from 
SUNY Albany was elected Chairman  of the New York College Republican State   
Committee. Michael was  elected by a vote of 9 to 7 and is looking forward 
to bringing the NYCRSC  to heights never seen before. He plans to unite all 
the   
chapters in  the state and increase fundraising for the state organization, 
among  other  things. Other positions filled include Matthew Wimpelberg as 
Co-Chair  position, Sonia Kups as secretary and Mike Gormley as treasurer. 
Regional  Co-Chair positions were also filled.

Ventre is a junior studying  political science at UAlbany, and is an intern 
in the State Assembly. He  ran on a platform of “reform.” As I think about 
that,  I can’t recall any  candidate running on a platform against reform. 

Here are three  happy quotes from the release:

Ventre said, “I am deeply  honored that chapters from all across the great  
 Empire State  entrusted me with the responsibility of rebuilding the State 
Committee from  its current state of dysfunction and corruption to an  
organization of  which all New York College Republicans may be proud.”

Convention  host and coordinator, Marko Kepi, added his support and praise, 
“I was  proud that an overwhelming majority of the credentialed chapters 
came and  participated in the three day convention. Not only were John Jay 
College  Republicans pleased to welcome NYCRs to our school, but we are also  
excited to  stand by new Chairman Michael Ventre and his message of  reform.
” 



Even though this well put on convention is barely over,  there are  already 
plans in the works for next year’s convention. The rumor  mill is in full 
swing throwing out places such as SUNY Albany as a possible  place for next 
year’s convention. However, it is going to be hard to top  this year’s 
convention  and all the hard work that Marko Kepi and the John  Jay College 
Republicans put  into it.