The Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club is notendorsing any city council candidates this year,says Republican Club President Karen E. Boyle '94.
Boyle explains that "endorsement," a formaldeclaration of support, cannot be made innon-partisan city council elections. But the club"supports" James McSweeney, Boyle adds.
"He is the conservative candidate," Boyle says,"and he came to speak to us, as did his campaignmanager."
Boyle acknowledges, however, that while someclub members are working for McSweeney's campaign,the club as a whole is not as enthusiastic when itcomes to participating in local campaigns.
"At Harvard, it's difficult to get people fromall over the country to rally around a citycouncil election," Boyle says. "It just doesn'thit home."
Efforts to involve students in local politicshave been made, Boyle says. A registrar was at arecent Republican club meeting for any studentswho wished to switch their registration toCambridge, Boyle says.
Boyle, who is registered to vote in Cambridge,says she plans to vote for McSweeney in theupcoming elections.
The Harvard Republican Action Council also isnot endorsing any council candidates, says N. VanTaylor '96, president of the action council.
"We looked at the candidates and didn't thinkour membership would be attracted by any inparticular," Taylor says, noting that theelections are also non-partisan.
The Harvard-Radcliffe Democrats also will notendorse any council candidates.
"It's a matter of club policy," explains JohnB. King '95, vice-president of theHarvard-Radcliffe Democrats and a volunteer withthe Reeves campaign.
However, the club is making efforts to linkstudents eager to become involved with candidatesseeking such volunteers, King says. At least sixclub members are working with the Reeves campaign,says King, who serves as the club's liaison to theReeves campaign.
The exception to the rule of student groupsside-stepping local politics is the BGLSA, whichsupports Reeves.
"We definitely endorse Mayor Ken Reeves," saysLin. Several BGLSA members are working in theReeves campaign and Reeves campaign literature wasdistributed at a BGLSA meeting, Lin adds.
For those students interested in politicalcampaign work, involvement in a city councilcampaign can be very rewarding, student volunteerssay.
"Working in this campaign has enabled me to getmy feet wet. It's been great because I've beenable to sit down with Jim [McSweeney], who's agreat guy, and talk to him about strategy," saysBrooks.
While working in a local campaign may not yieldmuch in the way of "connections," it can be usefulfor moving into state and national politicsbecause of the political experience one gains,says Nadol, who worked last summer as an intern ina Congressional office.
"In a local campaign, you have a lot morecontrol over what happens," Nadol says. "It's afantastic experience.