Greenwich Post
Greenwich teen heads to D.C.

Jul 12, 2007

Ryan Fazio

During his run for lieutenant governor last month, Ryan Fazio fought for free markets, lower taxes and further deregulation of the health care industry.

While he came up short, losing by eight votes, the Greenwich High School student made his mark at Boys State, an annual mock-government conference for civic-minded Connecticut teens.

Despite losing his election, Ryan was chosen as one of two students to represent the state later this month at Boys Nation, a prestigious national conference held each year in Washington, D.C.

“I may have lost the battle, but at the end of the day, I kind of won the war,” Ryan said.

Ryan, who recently finished his junior year, was one of seven GHS students selected to attend this year’s Boys State.

Like the others in his delegation, he was nominated by teachers and guidance counselors and formally chosen by the local chapter of the American Legion, which held interviews with each candidate.

Interested in politics since the fifth grade — the year of the 2000 presidential election — Ryan is the vice president of the “Democrats, Republicans and Everything in Between” club. He’s also president of the debate club and associate editor of the school newspaper.

At the conference, Ryan found himself a member of the Nationalist Party, a group that faced off against the rival Federalists for control of the simulated state government.

“The theme of our party was opening up new markets for more commerce and economic progress in the state,” Ryan said, explaining that he was instrumental in setting the Nationalist agenda.

Though he’s a registered Republican, Ryan said his personal political views are not fully aligned with the GOP.

“I’m not a partisan Republican — I just registered with them so I can vote in the primary,” he said. “I’m a small-government guy, almost like a Libertarian.”

He said he’s most influenced by the writing of philosopher Ayn Rand, whose theory of objectivism has greatly influenced his views.

After helping to establish his party’s platform, Ryan rose through the ranks, going from town party chairman to state senator to senate majority leader.

Soon, he was up for lieutenant governor, one of six major offices at stake for the program’s 225 participants.

Even though he lost, Ryan said he was honored to come so far.

He received an even bigger honor at the end of the weeklong program, when he learned the American Legion had selected him to attend Boys Nation.

“It should be exciting,” he said. “Every kid gets to meet one-on-one with a senator.”

In addition to meeting senators and participating in another mock-government exercise, Ryan will attend lectures by people like Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

Looking down the list of Boys Nation alumni, Ryan is in the company of some well-known politicians. Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman was selected when he was a teenager, and the famous picture of Bill Clinton shaking hands with John F. Kennedy was taken when the future President attended the event in 1963.

“I remember seeing that picture long before I knew about Boys State,” Ryan said. “The fact that Bill Clinton was involved shows what kind of reputation it has.”

Despite his success, Ryan said he has no plans to stick with politics in the long run.
“It’s more of a hobby,” he said. “I just want to have a family and have children and live a comfortable lifestyle.”

Even so, Ryan said he’ll always stay abreast of politics. He said it’s important everyone votes and participates in government on some level.

“I just hope I’ll do my best to voice the opinion that kids and all people should take a look at the issues in an open and direct manner and decide where they stand, because at the end of the day, it’s their choice,” he said.

Erf Porter, co-chairman of the Greenwich Boys and Girls State Commission, the panel that selects teens for the program, said the town should be proud of Ryan’s accomplishment.

“The fact that Ryan was chosen means he was seen by the staff of the program as being one of the two outstanding young leaders, which is a great compliment to him, the system and Greenwich High School,” Mr. Porter said. “We’re very proud of him being recognized.”

State Rep. Livvy Floren, co-chair of the selection committee, said programs like Boys State and Boys Nation provide invaluable opportunities for kids to learn about politics and make new friends.

“It’s a learning-by-doing program,” said Ms. Floren, who, as a teenager, was elected lieutenant governor of Empire Girls State, New York’s version of the program.

“It’s so good for them to be surrounded by their peers, who are also pretty spectacular,” she said. “It makes friendships that last them all through college.”