Moorestown Teens Learn the Political Ropes

They’re the leaders of tomorrow, so why not give them a shot today?

A longstanding American Legion program gave a group of enterprising Moorestown teenagers the opportunity last month to dip their toes into the adult world of government and politics.

Jersey Boys State, a weeklong seminar held at Rider University, gives teenage boys across the state the chance to acclimate themselves with the inner workings of policy and governance by letting them create their own fictional “city” and then run it, in groups, as a governing body.

“For many of them, the extent of their knowledge is what they learn in school,” said Brandon Pugh, a counselor at Jersey Boys State who is himself just a few years removed from being a participant. “This is the first time they actually see it in action … rather than reading it from a textbook. The experience is invaluable.”

Many of the participants are hesitant to get involved at first, Pugh said, so the counselors present them with “problems” for their mock governments: For example, they’re facing government mandates and don’t have enough money in their budget. (Clearly the “mock” dilemmas are based on real ones.)

Pugh, , said Jersey Boys State, left an indelible mark on him and influenced his own decision to run for office.

The roster of former Jersey Boys State participants—there were 969 delegates this year, Pugh said—is a who’s who of present-day New Jersey political movers and shakers, from U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez to Gov. Chris Christie. Not surprisingly, the two elected officials served as Boys State senator and Boys State governor, respectively. (Talk about foreshadowing.)

Allen Black, who heads up the Jersey Boys State committee for the , said Moorestown has for many years stood out at Jersey Boys State for sending “amazingly good quality groups of boys.”

While most other communities send only a handful of participants, Moorestown averages between nine and 12, said Black, who went as a boy himself many years ago. Moorestown sent 11 participants this year. 

“I’m going to sound biased, but Moorestown’s really well-known because the guys we send are of the highest caliber,” added Pugh.

For more information, visit the Jersey Boys State website.