The Collegian

Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy of Joel Sorrell

When Mike Chalberg, now a fifth year senior, met Hans Zeiger '07 his freshman year, he had no idea that within five years, the friendly junior would become homecoming king, finish his master's degree, and run for political office.

"You would never assume how academically successful he was," Chalberg said.

They lived on the same hall in Simpson Hall. The two became good friends.

Four and a half years later, Chalberg is finishing his degree and Zeiger, a 2007 graduate with a degree in American Studies who just completed his master's degree in public policy at Pepperdine University, is running for state representative in Washington's 25th District.

The race

Zeiger said that the threat to Americans' liberty inspired him to run.

He emphasized the importance of good schools, economic growth, and affordable healthcare. Government, he said, hinders America from reaching these goals. So Zeiger said he hopes to build up communities, rather than bureaucracies, and to help defend the institutions of church, family and small business.

He described his opponent, incumbent Dawn Morrell, as a liberal democrat who is out of touch with her constituents, saying that she supports a larger government role in healthcare.

The primary will be in January, and Zeiger described its dynamics as "very favorable at this time."

He said he has had to raise all his own money because the Republican Party will not support a challenger. He has raised $18,000 and hopes to make $25,000 by the end of this year and $150,000 by the election next November.

Larry Arnn, president of the college and one of his mentors, was his first campaign contributor.

"I would challenge my fellow Hillsdale students to find ways they can run for office in their own communities," he said, mentioning that he is good friends with Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sessions, a Hillsdale senior. He admires Sessions' determination and believes he has done an admirable job serving the city.

Zeiger will be 25 by the time of the primary in January.

He said he is not worried that his age will keep him from being a good leader, pointing out that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, James Madison and Theodore Roosevelt were all in their 20s when they were first elected to office.

His community has already elected three state legislators that were younger than he is.

Senior Zach Howard, Zeiger's little brother in Mu Alpha music honorary, said he thinks Zeiger will make a good legislator.

"Personally, knowing Hans, he's a very thoughtful, articulate young man who'll be able to lead principally," Howard said.

"He's a driven person," he said. "He gets excited about politics, conservatism, and Christianity."

College experience

Zeiger stood out during his time at Hillsdale, not only because of his social accomplishments, but also because he published two books: "Get Off My Honor: The Assault on the Boy Scouts of America" and "Reagan's Children: Taking Back the City on a Hill."

Chalberg went on two spring break trips to Florida with Zeiger. He said that when the rest of the students would go to 18 and over clubs, Zeiger would stay back at the hotel and work on his writing.

"We gave him s--- about that," he said.

Zeiger stood out in another way, as well: he climbed Central Hall seven times, according to Chalberg, and sometimes took groups up. He got caught on the last trip.

Burt Folsom, professor of history, had Zeiger in his Economic History class. Though Zeiger was a good student, Folsom said that his writing made him stand out in the class.

"That was clearly his nitch," said Folsom.

Folsom remembered watching him compete in the Everett Oratory. Though the winner, Dan Burfiend, was more technically proficient, Zeiger was more passionate, Folsom said.

"He's thoughtful," Folsom said. "He's passionate, but not shrill."

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