23-Year-Old Political Novice Aims to Cut Spending

In the Lyon household, conservative values and politics were always important.

"Politics was always dinner-table discussion," said William "Hank" Lyon, the Montville 23-year-old who, , ousted veteran Republican Morris County freeholder Margaret Nordstrom in Tuesday's primary.

If the results stand, Lyon will face Democrat and fellow Montville resident, Truscha Quatrone, in November's general election.

Lyon, who works in his family's business, a chain of Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants and Maggie Moo's ice cream shops, with locations in Rockaway, Hasbrouck Heights, New Brunswick and even some in New York state, said he has been "blessed to have that type of experience."

He also said his experience operating the restaurants has helped to shape his ideals.

"I always believed in conservative ideals," Lyon said. "In a small business, you really see how taxes in New Jersey have really gotten to an oppressive standpoint, and regulation can really be burdensome."

He hopes to be the most conservative voice on the Board of Chosen Freeholders, if elected, and said the board needs "someone to articulate clear conservative principals."

Lyon's strategy while campaigning consisted of knocking on doors and speaking to voters. He specifically targeted Republican voters who have historically turned out for primary elections.

Going into Tuesday's primary, Lyon said he visited 4,500 houses alone. His family, friends and supporters visited another 1,000.

"I was very confident going into election day," said Lyon, who emphasized his direct contact with voters was invaluable.

"I would tell people that if the last 20 years duplicates itself for the next 20 years, at the end of the 20-year period, it's not going to be the same country that we love right now," Lyon said.

Lyon gave an example of how one voter responded: "It's more like five years."

"I think that kind of summed up the mood," Lyon said.

Lyon is a 2006 graduate of , where he was co-captain of his cross country and track teams. He graduated with honors from the College of the Holy Cross and studied physics and economics.

After coming home from college last year, he began speaking around the state. His first speech was to a group of 2,500 at an Independence Day Tea Party rally on the Morristown Green.

In his free time, he reads, specifically books like "The Road to Serfdom," by Austrian economist F.A. Hayek and the works of Milton Friedman. He also considers Ronald Reagan to be his hero.

"I find the great communicator to be the only one who can not only touch my mind, but also my heart," Lyon said.

Lyon, who has no political experience, said the reason he wants to get involved at such a young age is two-fold: Not only does he enjoy politics, but he feels "young people have a tremendous amount to lose right now."

He thinks young people should be more involved and points to Thomas Jefferson as an example: Jefferson, Lyon said, wrote the Declaration of Independence when he was 33. Lyon feels that the founding fathers benefited from different generations coming together to share their ideas.