Zach Howell's office is empty, save for a football tucked under a desk and a lone yellow bumper sticker on the wall: "College Republicans make great leaders. You're following one."

Howell, a 23-year-old from Sandy, is taking that advice to heart as he assumes his new role as chairman of the College Republican National Committee.

With the Republican Party attempting to chart a new path forward after a thumping in last year's general election, Howell will play a pivotal role in boosting the youth vote for Republican causes.

"It's an exciting chance to prove our party is strong and effective," Howell says from his office six blocks from the Capitol.

The last Utahn to hold Howell's title was Daniel Marriott, who was co-chairman from 1999-2000. Before that, it was another University of Utah student, Karl Rove, who headed the group.

Rove, of course, went on to be a senior adviser to President George W. Bush.

Like Rove, Howell's interest in politics came early. Howell started volunteering on campaigns at 13, helping on the initial 2002 campaign of John Swallow for the 2nd Congressional District and again for Swallow two years later.

"I love politics," Howell says. "I'm kind of bored without it."

His new role won't leave much time for tedium.

There are 1,800 campus chapters with about 204,000 members across the nation, and that's before what Howell says will be a big recruiting drive this fall headed into midterm elections next year.

Howell's first priority: organizing an effort to flood Virginia and New Jersey as those two states elect new governors. After that, he says, he wants to be ready to "go all out" for the 2010 congressional elections.

Stan Lockhart, who retired June 20 as chairman of the Utah GOP, said Howell's election shows the strength of young Republicans in the Beehive State.

"Utah College Republicans are recognized as being some of the most active College Republicans across the country," Lockhart said. "To some extent, this is a demonstration and recognition not only for Zach but for all the College Republicans in Utah."

And Howell has an important role, Lockhart added.

"Our young people are the future of the party and the College Republicans provide vitality and energy in campaigns," he said.

Howell's group is now a separate 527 tax-exempt organization that is forbidden by campaign laws from coordinating with the Republican National Committee. It serves essentially as a resource to other state and campus chapters. The small staff ships off kits to chapters to help them recruit members and helps organize mass events and volunteer opportunities.

Howell, who graduated last month in political science from the University of Utah, boasts an impressive resume for his age. He interned at the White House's Office of Strategic Initiatives -- coincidentally, a Rove arm of the Bush administration -- in 2007 and for former Rep. Chris Cannon in 2006 as part of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics program.

As the former Western Regional vice chairman of the group, Howell began a campaign six months before the election and ably beat back other competitors along the way, earning himself a unanimous vote on June 6 to take the reins of the national committee.

While politics is in Howell's blood, he doesn't plan to run for office anytime soon or head toward a political consulting future. He'll make a bid for political office, "only if I'm good at something else first," he says. That perhaps may mean law school after his gig in Washington is up.

For now, Howell has to set up his office and figure out how to help navigate the party's future.

"It's tough," Howell says of the road ahead, "but it's also extremely exciting."

• Thomas Burr writes for The Salt Lake Tribune

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