We’ve all heard the Democrats’ refrain that the Republican Party is made up of nothing but old, white men.  But don’t tell that to 18-year-old Claira Guerra, who just recently became the youngest Central Committee member in California.  

Ron Nehring, the chairman of the California Republican Party, honored Guerra’s achievement on Sunday at the CRP convention in Indian Wells. Guerra gave a short speech and received a standing ovation from a who’s who list of California Republican officials.

“The California Republican Party is serious about becoming the party young Californians choose when they register to vote and help elect the state’s leaders,” Nehring said after the convention. “That’s why we’re particularly excited about having young leaders like Claira Guerra in party leadership positions. It demonstrates just how serious we are about having young people involved in shaping our campaigns.”

And involved she is. In addition to her service to the Ventura County Republicans, Guerra is also active in the Ventura County Young Republicans and the Conejo Valley Republican Women Federated.  As a member of RECLAIM, a group for teenage Republicans, she’s started three clubs on high-school campuses. She’s also interned for local public officials. Somewhere along the way, she even found time to graduate from high school.

“I’ve had the best mentors that anyone could ask ever for,” said Guerra, crediting the executive director of the county party and several officials of the Conejo Valley Republican Women Federated. “I am very honored to be appointed by the Ventura County Republican Party to the District 2 caucus. I hope to be able to live up to the example set by my predecessor.”