Jemison native elected to office for College Republicans
Published 8:50 am Friday, April 26, 2013
While it’s no newsflash that you have to be at least 35 years old to run for president, it might come as a surprise that there’s no minimum age to get into politics.
At any point in life, one can get involved with the party of their choosing at a local, state or national level.
Such is the case with Jemison’s Emily Hand. The Judson sophomore and 2011 graduate of Jemison High is only 19, but is already making waves within the state’s political arena.
Passion for politics: Jemison native Emily Hand is pictured with Gov. Robert Bentley.
After starting a chapter of the College Republican Federation of Alabama at Judson, Hand has been elected central-vice chairwoman for the Federation.
Hand said she felt getting into politics was just natural.
“I’ve always been interested in politics,” she said. “[Ever] since I was a little girl. I remember being so into the 2008 presidential debate, I sat in the car while my mom [grocery shopped] and listened to it on the radio.”
In high school, she worked with Renee Powers as part of former-Sen. Hank Erwin’s campaign during her sophomore year. She said she knew she wanted to be involved with the Republican Party, not just on the grounds of the political stance, but because she felt a common bond with their ethics.
“I’m passionate about politics, but I’m also passionate about conservative values,” she said.
A meeting with then-CRFA chairman Michael Lee last year led to her starting a chapter at Judson, and within a year, she has been elected central vice-chairwoman of the CRFA after being nominated by and working with the University of Alabama.
As vice-chairwoman, Hand’s duties include the supervision of several chapters in the federation.
“Basically, the chapters in the federation are divided into chapters,” she said. “My job is working as a liaison for the chapters in my district. If a school has a big event, I work with the others schools to get them involved.”
The political future looks promising for the biology/nursing double major, but Hand said she wasn’t sure that a political office was something she sought.
“After I graduate Judson, I plan on going to nurse anesthetist school at UAB,” she said. “I just plan on following God’s guidance. Maybe not as a candidate, but I plan on being involved [in politics in the future].”
