John Kleinhans, President of the Student Government Association at Lyndon State College, is a young man with his eye on the national political stage.
John entered politics at the precocious age of seven by campaigning for his father’s run for councilman in his hometown of Vernon, Conn. The issue that sparked his father’s passion? The failure of local schools to supply crayons to kindergartners.
Fast forward 13 years. John, then 19, became the youngest person to serve as a state chair for the College Republican National Committee. Under his leadership the Vermont chapter grew from five to 150 members. Today John is a college junior and the Northeastern Regional Vice Chair for the College Republican National Committee (CRNC), representing a territory from Maine to Maryland. At the July 2011 National Convention John Kleinhans will be a nominee to become Chair of the College Republican National Committee.
“It’s been a wild ride.” says John.
Along the way he’s racked up a significant list of accomplishments—and frequent flier miles. John was named as one of the top twelve college Republicans in the United States in 2009 by the College Republican National Committee. National Politics Daily blogger Katie Glueck lists him as one of five rising stars under the age of 25. During the summer of 2009 he served as an intern for The Daily Caller, Tucker Carlson’s influential conservative blog. He’s has made several trips to Israel on behalf of America’s top pro-Israel lobby, The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He is scheduled to address an AIPAC gathering in Israel in late December.
During the just-ended election season John worked on statewide campaigns in Vermont for Mark Snelling (Lieutenant Governor) and Thomas Salmon (State Auditor).
John has also had the chance to meet a dazzling array of political stars including Newt Gingrich, former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, Republican National Chair Michael Steele, U.S. Senators Scott Brown and Kelly Ayotte, and Vermont Governor James Douglas. Early in December this year John presented Vermont governor-elect Peter Shumlin with an open letter asking for greater support for higher education in Vermont.
When not participating on a national stage, John takes his duties as Lyndon’s Student Government president seriously. “We have 39 active clubs and a healthy budget.” Photo coverage in the student newspaper, The Critic, has taught this budding political figure a valuable lesson. “Always remember to smile!”
Lyndon might seem like a small launching pad for someone with Kleinhans’ ambitions. Not the case insists John. “Next to President Moore I’m Lyndon’s biggest fan.” A key factor is the ability for students to have hands-on involvement inside and outside the classroom from day one. He loves this corner of Vermont too. Which is where the circle closes: One of his goals is to reverse Vermont’s brain drain. He’d like to help create opportunities that will keep our young people living, learning, and earning in the Northeast Kingdom.