They knew they’d have to face off one day.
The former presidents of the UF College Democrats and Republicans looked across the aisle and saw future competitors.
Now, the day is almost here when Eric Conrad and Bryan Griffin, both 23 and equipped with UF political science degrees, go head-to head in the Gainesville City Commission run-off election. While they aren’t running, they said their hearts are fully invested in race.
“His win or loss,” said Griffin, campaign manager for District 3 candidate Rob Zeller, “becomes my win or loss.”
Their days are a series of to-do lists.
Each wakes up around 8 a.m.
Griffin said he likes to get as much sleep as possible before his first UF law class, so he skips breakfast to give him more time.
“It might not be the healthiest,” he said, “but it works for me.”
Conrad’s alarm blares Killswitch Engage or another metal band. Breakfast is toast with peanut butter.
“I wish it was something healthy,” he said.
Then, Griffin goes to class, and Conrad goes to Susan Bottcher’s campaign headquarters — her house.
After Griffin’s class, he meets up with Zeller.
The next hours are filled with posters, price evaluations and phone calls.
The days are long, and the downtime is short, so each man has developed his own method of coping with the breakneck speed that comes with campaigning.
When Conrad comes home, he walks into his one-story suburban home, greets his wife, Danni, and makes a beeline for his chair.
He might read or watch TV, but for five minutes he doesn’t say a word.
“It’s kind of an unplugging period,” Conrad said.
For Griffin, his zoo-like rescue pets are the cure to a stressful day.
Over the years, Griffin, who also majored in classical history, hatched an emu, Icarus, from an egg he bought on Craigslist, cared for a pig, Nefertiti, and grew attached to a once-abused skunk, Odysseus.
He’s given most of his pets to friends, farms and his parents. Odysseus is his most recent rescue, and Griffin sees him every day.
“He is my joy and my relief,” he said.
They also have their support groups.
Griffin said when he was running for a seat on the county Soil and Water Conservation Board, his dad drove from Tampa to help him put signs at all 80 polling locations in Gainesville.
Conrad said his wife understands how much time it takes to run the campaign. She’s seen him through much more, including his UF Student Government involvement and his work on Mayor Craig Lowe’s campaign.
The two started dating in seventh grade.
Griffin said he sees himself as a family man, but he hasn’t found the right woman yet.
“My friends joke around I’m looking for a first lady,” he said.
They got to where they are now through UF political clubs. But they didn’t start out with political aspirations.
Conrad came to UF with dreams of becoming a teacher. Griffin wanted to be a political reporter.
Along the way, Conrad got involved with the 2008 Barack Obama election campaign, and Griffin helped start a conservative newspaper. Conrad was the press secretary for Student Government, and Griffin was the Gator Growl spokesman.
Then, they found their respective political party organizations and rose to the rank of president.
“That time of my life was just unforgettable,” Griffin said.
Conrad agreed. He said he will never forget the time Michelle Obama wished him “Happy birthday.”
He was sitting inside the Hippodrome Theatre, waiting to introduce her to a crowd during early voting in 2008. He reviewed his speech for half an hour.
Then, there was a tap on his shoulder. He looked up, and there was Michelle Obama.
“The worst part was I kind of didn’t see her coming,” he said.
He was stunned and forgot his speech. He memorized it again in 10 minutes.
“It was a big day,” Conrad said. “I was very happy.”
Although their days are consumed with the election for now, it will inevitably end.
From there, their goals diverge.
Conrad said he wants to get a master’s in political campaigning from UF or George Washington University. He is waiting on the admission results.
Griffin, who wears a presidential seal necklace carved from a 50-cent coin that he bought at a Medieval festival, has aspirations of becoming a senator or president of the United States.
“I’m not going to limit my own dreams and ambitions,” he said.
Until then, they are the men behind the scenes.
“I’ve still got a race to run,” Conrad said.
