Although student-government elections just ended, some students still plan to get a piece of political action in the municipal primary elections on May 19.
Wharton sophomore Nick Greif is running for inspector of elections for the 11th district of the 27th ward. If he is elected, Greif's primary duty would be to help run polling places on election day.
In order to be a candidate in the primary, Greif had to submit a petition with signatures from five registered Republicans in his district.
Although inspector of elections is a four-year position, Greif said he does not plan to stay in Philadelphia after he graduates, but would instead appoint another Republican to finish his term.
Greif is on the Nominations and Elections Committee at Penn and decided to run because he thought it would be interesting to "be involved with elections on a larger scale."
He found out about the election from an e-mail on the College Republicans listserv. The e-mail encouraged members to run saying, "You will be paid if you are elected for your work. You may also take a job away from a Democrat, which in itself is a plus. Just think of the ego gratification and resume enhancement to have your name on the ballot."
Penn Dems sent out a similar e-mail to its listserv. "Want to be an elected politician someday? Of course you do!" it said.
Penn Dems President and College sophomore Jordan Levine, a former Daily Pennsylvanian advertising representative, said that running for local office gives students "a good opportunity to get to know the local community."
However, Levine added that most Penn students are away for a month over winter break and four months during the summer so "it is difficult to stay involved in the five months we are not here."
"If students do run, it is important that they are responsible," he said.
Matthew Wolfe, the Republican ward leader for the 27th ward, said that some University City divisions "are basically 100-percent students, so that if students don't run, no one will."
Wolfe, who is a Penn alumus and former vice president of the College Republicans, works with the College Republicans to get students on the ballot. He said he has "had a tough time finding people to run" and had to do "serious recruiting."
When Wolfe first became ward leader in 1979, he was frustrated by constant turnover but now sees it "simply a reality in University City" and has found that the students he has worked with over the years "more than exceed the level of competence necessary to perform the task."
Dawn Deitch, director of the Office of Government and Community Affairs at Penn said it is "absolutely terrific when students make civic participation part of their educational experience."
Deitch acknowledged that "a student population naturally turns over," but said "ward leaders have been really helpful" with filling vacant positions in the past and not being able to serve a full term "should not be disincentive to running."
The primary takes place a week after the end of finals, but Deitch said she encourages all students to vote absentee.
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