Political impact

This spring’s graduation ceremonies have put a spotlight on local students trying to make great strides. One who’s fitting the bill is Los Molinos’ Nicholas Kitchel. He graduated with honors in political science from UC Berkeley last month, and has at least one national figure boldly predicting he’ll one day be the nation’s president.

As a political intern for the Democratic National Committee in 2012, Kitchel made a huge impression on the DNC’s national political director, Steve Walker. Now the executive director for iVote, a national political action committee for voters’ rights, Walker forwarded an April Instagram photo of himself with Kitchel to the CN&R, which contained the message: “Really great catching up with @nicholaskitchel. He will be POTUS [President of the U.S.] one day. #TeamAwesome.”

While at Berkeley, Kitchel, a graduate of Red Bluff High School, racked up an impressive résumé. Among other things, he served as the national council secretary for College Democrats of America, was UC Berkeley’s national affairs chief deputy, and was the chief of staff for California College Democrats.

Among Kitchel’s many accomplishments, his most powerful may be helping create an organization that will aid thousands of California students, including those at Chico State: The California Public Higher Education Caucus (CPHEC), which kicked into gear on May 1.

The caucus will be an advocate in Washington, D.C., for prospective and current California State University and University of California students and there are plans to include community colleges soon. It will campaign for federal investment, affordability and low student-loan interest rates.

CPHEC already includes more than 30 California congressmen and -women as members.

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Kitchel said during a recent phone interview. “Student debt now exceeds credit card debt, which is pretty incredible.”

Kitchel created the caucus with a handful of other student leaders from the UC system.

“Approximately four [or] five of us started the idea for the CPHEC in 2012,” Kitchel said. “The following year, some of them graduated, so myself and two others kept the fire going.”

To make the caucus bipartisan, they tried signing Democrat and Republican congress members as co-chairs, but none of the busy politicians had the time. So last year, while interning in Washington, D.C., Kitchel spent some of his off time on Capitol Hill pitching the idea to congressional staff. One of those was Congressman Ami Bera’s chief of staff, whose excitement about the idea caught on with Bera (D-Rancho Cordova), a former UC Davis faculty member. Bera agreed to be the co-leader. Shortly thereafter, he was joined by Congressman Jeff Denham (R-Modesto).

The congressmen officially inaugurated CPHEC in Washington, D.C., with the founding students, including Kitchel, who spoke at a ceremony on May 1. At least one Chico State alumnus attended: Joe Bañez, a staff assistant for Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Santa Monica).

UC President Janet Napolitano and CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White also voiced support.

“We look forward to working with all members of the caucus and our partners in California public higher education to continue to improve graduation rates, keep student debt low, and move California’s economy forward,” White said.

Chico State President Paul Zingg also applauds the effort.

“My own views echo those of Tim White and Janet Napolitano that access, affordability, quality and accountability are the cornerstones of public higher education in California,” he said in an email from Scotland.

Kitchel beamed about the caucus’ solid foundation.

“By that May 1 ceremony we had 32 members of Congress signed up, which is more than half of the entire California delegation,” he said.

Post-graduation, Kitchel plans to intern and work in Washington, D.C., for a couple of years before enrolling in law school.

Overall, iVote’s Walker may be one of Kitchel’s biggest supporters. In an interview with the CN&R, he reiterated his praise.

“He’s brilliant,” Walker said. “I’ve witnessed his leadership skills and I hope he runs for office. If he puts his mind to it, he could be president one day.”

Kitchel’s mother, Lana Kitchel, is also very proud.

“Nick has done some absolutely amazing things,” she said by phone from her Los Molinos home. “This is an incredible legacy for Nick as he graduates.”