Political
volunteers: Talent that couldn't be
bought
Featuring: Suzy
Voyles, Mark Irle, Joe Adamczak &
Jan Boehmig
The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Published on:
05/04/06
When Sonny Perdue signed up to run for a second term as Georgia's governor, local party activists from the Northside streamed into downtown Atlanta to wave the banner.
The governor turned out more than 200 local party activists who helped add energy and enthusiasm to an otherwise routine event.
Those who made up the crowd are part of an army of volunteers who often go unnoticed but provide vital support to campaigns, from tiny city or county races to that for president of the United States.
Candidates and the professionals who run campaigns turn to volunteers for the grunt work: answering phones, nailing up signs, stuffing envelopes, etc. They get to see politics from the inside out, and elected officials don't forget their contributions.
"You could not afford to go out and buy that kind of talent," said state Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs). "If [not for volunteers] I'd be lost. They can make all the difference."
Here's a look a four Northside political volunteers:
Phil
Skinner/AJC STAFF
A legacy
of involved citizenship --
'My family, it's not an
exaggeration, came over on
the Mayflower' -- makes Suzi
Voyles serve. |
Suzi Voyles
Voyles is a Ronald Reagan Republican.
But she's not one of those who jumped on the bandwagon during Reagan's eight years as president. No, Voyles, 52, became a Reagan loyalist as a California teen who wrote a letter to her governor — and got a handwritten response.
More than 30 years of marriage and three daughters later, Voyles finds her commitment to conservative causes is only growing.
"It's a legacy that's been passed down in my family," Voyles said. "My family, it's not an exaggeration, came over on the Mayflower. There's always been an interest in liberty."
The Sandy Springs resident arrived in Georgia as a Republican when GOP numbers were small. She spread the gospel to family and friends — eventually volunteering for GOP stalwarts U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and former state Sen. Sallie Newbill. She's now working with U.S. Rep. Tom Price, Gov. Sonny Perdue and Fulton County Commission Chairwoman Karen Handel's bid for secretary of state.
She's willing to do anything that's needed, whether stuffing envelopes or waving the banner at a rally.
"I consider it a privilege to work for candidates," Voyles said. "I'm happy to stand behind them."
Phil
Skinner/AJC STAFF
|
Mark Irle
Irle used to have hobbies. He'd play golf, fish and spend time in the gym.
Now, Irle's free time goes to working with Republican candidates and for local GOP causes. Irle, 47, estimates he spends more than 10 hours a week volunteering for various party causes.
He's done everything from putting up campaign signs to chairing a local candidate's campaign.
Irle said he began by voting as a Democrat but quickly converted during Democrat Jimmy Carter's presidency and has stayed Republican ever since.
"As the Republicans grew, I sort of grew with them," Irle said.
Unmarried and with no children, Irle said he's got the free time needed to be active in politics. Six years ago, he ran, unsuccessfully, for a seat in the state House.
Now the technology executive finds himself as the local party's first vice chairman.
"I think the last four or five years have been critical," Irle said. "I'd say it's all been worth it. But I am looking forward to cutting back."
Phil
Skinner/AJC STAFF
Joe
Adamczak is unafraid of
grunt work but says if the
race were right, he too
might run. |
Joe Adamczak
When his daughter Jennifer left for college, Joe Adamczak found he had a little too much free time.
So, Adamczak, 53, dived into local politics with his wife, Ann, volunteering for numerous local Republican Party activities.
"It was time to get more involved in our community," Adamczak said.
The Alpharetta insurance broker had always been interested in politics and voted, but he had never been part of a campaign until the 2000 presidential election. Talk of tax cuts and a smaller federal government interested Adamczak.
Soon he was volunteering for Saxby Chambliss in his bid for the U.S. Senate and Karen Handel in her race for commission chairwoman. He also found himself enjoying the monthly Republican breakfast and annual summer barbecue fund-raiser.
He describes himself as unafraid of grunt work.
"I don't have any problem getting on the phone and making calls," Adamczak said.
He expects to spend several hours a week working for Gov. Sonny Perdue's re-election bid and Handel's race for secretary of state. Adamczak finds politics so fascinating now that he could see himself running for office someday if the right job opened up.
Phil
Skinner/AJC STAFF
Jan
Boehmig, showing a photo of
her with Gov. Sonny Perdue,
says she loves her volunteer
work. 'It gives me
satisfaction to feel like I
am helping to save the
country.' |
Jan Boehmig
Boehmig is a rarity in Georgia — a lifetime Republican.
The Sandy Springs activist said her interest in Republican politics dates to when Dwight Eisenhower was president in the 1950s. A retired educator with 30 years in teaching and a mother of six, Boehmig was a young Republican in college in the 1950s.
When party officials call, Boehmig said, she's ready to answer phones, welcome visitors, put stamps on envelopes or any other task.
She said she works for party issues because that effort helps to ensure her values will be carried forward.
"It's wonderful when you are retired and you have the time," she said. "It gives me satisfaction to feel like I am helping to save the country."
Currently, Boehmig said, she divides her volunteering time among the campaigns of Karen Handel, Sonny Perdue, Casey Cagle and Tom Price.
"I know the people. I respect their opinions," she said.
Boehmig said she was thrilled recently when Gov. Sonny Perdue thanked her for her dedication during the speech he gave as he qualified for re-election. The governor also wrote her a letter of thanks.
"I was in hog heaven," she said.
