Lena Morrill, a junior government major at Sweet Briar College from Lawrenceville, Ga., was elected chair of the College Republican Federation of Virginia on Saturday, Dec. 5, becoming the highest ranking College Republican in the state. In the position, she will be a representative to the College Republicans National Committee and will sit on the executive committee of the Republican Party of Virginia.
Although Morrill expected a challenger during Saturday’s election at the CRFV’s 2009 convention in Williamsburg, she was the only previously announced candidate in attendance and won unopposed after no floor nominations were put forward. The federation held its convention on the second day of the Republican Party of Virginia Advance, an annual two-day gathering of Republican activists from across the commonwealth.
Morrill’s chairmanship became effective upon the vote, and she closed out the convention in her new post. As a result of her election, she immediately resigned as president of Sweet Briar’s College Republicans chapter. She also will give up a few other campus activities to clear room on her calendar.
“It is a considerable time commitment with meetings, growing the organization and visiting current members,” she said. “The congressional election is a huge part of the 2010 plan for the party, so a lot of communication between myself and campaigns will take place as well, so that college volunteers and interns can get out there and work.”
Morrill said she and her Republican colleagues have their sights set on taking back several congressional seats that went to Democrats in 2008. They include the Fifth District held by Rep. Tom Perriello of Charlottesville and Glenn Nye’s Second District in the Tidewater area.
Morrill takes over the CRFV chairmanship with a solid record of involvement in state politics, including interning for the Republican Party of Virginia and for Del. Harry R. Purkey, R-Virginia Beach, during the spring 2008 semester.
During this year’s statewide elections, she was a volunteer for the successful campaigns of Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli. She also worked to re-elect Del. Ben Cline, who represents Sweet Briar in the 24th District, and to elect Scott Garrett of Lynchburg, who will represent the 23rd District in the House of Delegates.
Both Cline and Garrett endorsed Morrill’s candidacy for the chairmanship.
As president of Sweet Briar’s CR chapter, she led a group of more than 30 students. A special election will be held in January to determine her replacement.
