Connor Montferrat is many things: Rutgers student, leukemia survivor, a double-major in Political Science and Criminal Justice at Rutgers University and a Republican. Montferrat, President of the New Jersey College Republicans, says he's happy to lead the 14 chapters on New Jersey campuses and help get Republican candidates elected everywhere.

"My parents, Fred and Carol, are Democrats. My dad was a local zoning-board member and my grandfather was a Democrat," Montferrat says. "But when I was in high school, I did a research paper and became fascinated with anarcho-capitalism. It's the closest thing to being a Libertarian without having to say you're a Libertarian. It's eye-for-an-eye capitalism and representative democracy. I just had a gut feeling about it and when I came to campus, Chris Christie was running for Governor. I had no idea what he was all about, but I learned more and I just stuck with it. So, I just kept volunteering and getting involved and here we are."



The Rutgers senior, who is planning to attend law school next fall, also is taking classes at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics. He took the time to be the first installment of the NJ.com/politics "Five Questions" (plus a bonus) feature:

Now that the Governor is running again, how can campus Republicans make a push for Christie between now and May?

College Republicans across the colleges in the state will continue to outreach and grow. They'll create a greater presence through writing letters to the editors or columns, and by holding events inviting the political spectrum — including Democrats, Independents, and Libertarians. We will also reach out to other universities, who used to have campus organizations and no longer have a presence. We had a large presence in 2009 for the gubernatorial race and people recognized the accomplishments then, and they'll see greater achievements sought after for the 2013 race.

What are the most frequent questions you get from your peers who want to learn more about the Republican party?

How is the Republican Party in New Jersey different than the national Republican Party? What proposals from the House Republicans are better than the Obama Administration?



Do these difficult times make it easier for college Republicans to find a new audience?

Yes. I see young Republicans everywhere, even if they don't know it yet. These times have made it easier to find a larger audience. More students can relate to the struggles and policies of the current administration and are no longer blaming the policies of the past. They see these new policies of the Obama era failing and are looking to new solutions. When they're graduating, they are without a job, knee-deep in debt and moving back in with their parents.

Furthermore, in New Jersey, young and old voters alike are relating to our Governor, a national leader for the Republican Party. He still has the same rhetoric, principles and morals from before— and more promises to keep now after Hurricane Sandy. He's done a great job thus far and will get us through the recovery. Election night he told Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike: “Tomorrow we take back New Jersey for our families … our friends … and our neighbors.” He told us that we would “have our work cut out for us … [and that] … there are no easy answers to these difficult problems,” but we were going to get through them together.

What is the biggest job you face as state president?



I believe the biggest challenge is to see that each chapter retains and grows its membership. Additionally, I hope to keep the college Republicans in the state connected and to make sure our agenda passes on. The future of our party needs to be strong long after our current board has progressed in their careers. We need to take the Republican message around the country and to New Jersey, by being disciplined, innovated, and prepared against the opposition. We will be truthful to voters about the Democrats' failed policies of the last years.

You say that you want to make sure our agenda passes on? What is that agenda? What do the young Republicans see as their mandate?



That we be truthful about the opposition and inspire new members and young republicans to come. In the organization, and as our mandate, we try to inspire more students of both sides to be civically engaged and active in political participation.

How can the National GOP make the party more accessible to college kids?

I think it is accessible to college students, we as volunteers and interns can be the backbone of the campaigns if we so choose. I don't think we need to change the messaging — fiscal sanity, solid morals and character, ending Obamacare, the war on terror — but we need to get the leaders to rebuild and rebrand. We need them to listen to us about social media, about keeping up with tactics to reach young people and minorities. They need to see it's a two-way street that gets us engaged and that we can participate in.



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