Young Republicans group forms in Palatine Township

Backing the GOP may not be in vogue among young people right now.

After all, 66 percent of voters under 30 helped get President Barack Obama into the White House.

But one group of students and young professionals ages 18 to 40 are mobilizing to stand up for their right-of-center principles, forming the Palatine Township Young Republicans.

"I'm not going to wait around for local party leaders to wake up and realize this is an age group that needs to be taken seriously," co-founder Andrew Kretschmar said.

The 2008 Palatine High School graduate served as campaign manager for newly elected Palatine Councilman Aaron Del Mar. He also volunteered for former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's campaign.

He's attended TOPPER (Township of Palatine Principled Energized Republicans) meetings, but found he was the youngest "by decades." Kretschmar said the Palatine Township Young Republicans are in no way affiliated with TOPPER, which has been fighting notoriety since a domestic dispute in March involving Committeeman and former Cook County Republican Party Chairman Gary Skoien.

The political-based Young Republicans organization will engage in multiple social and civic activities within the township, which covers all or parts of Palatine, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows, Inverness, Hoffman Estates, Barrington and South Barrington.

"I'm sure we'll be busy during election season, but we don't have to be constantly talking politics or out in the community," Kretschmar said.

Several local officials have endorsed the group, including Palatine Councilmen Aaron Del Mar and Scott Lamerand, as well as newly elected Palatine Township Trustee Sharon Langlotz-Johnson. State Rep. Suzie Bassi already offered to speak at a meeting.

"This truly is encouraging to see young people getting involved at a local level," Lamerand said.

Current Fremd High School students Jeff Pearson and Joe Kaiser are also co-founders. Kaiser, who's only 16 and won't have a vote at the meetings, said the politics club at school "isn't as welcoming to conservative views as I'd hoped."

The Palatine Township Young Republicans will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at a location that's yet to be determined. Individuals of all ages are encouraged to attend. The group's Web site, ptyr.org, will go live June 1.