Rep. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell, was named Republican House floor leader in October 2007, which earned him this office. He is serving his second term in the state House of Representatives, but just a little more than a decade ago, he was traveling across the Red Cedar River as an MSU student instead of crossing the aisle as a state legislator.

At MSU, he was active in ASMSU and Senior Class Council. He also was president of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and the Student Senate.

Although it's been several years since Hildenbrand, 34, took classes in East Lansing, nobody would give it a second thought if he sat down in a Wells Hall lecture room or grabbed a tray in the Snyder-Phillips cafeteria.

But unlike the vault in his office, it could take a lot of effort to keep the ambitious Hildenbrand locked up in Lansing.

**Young and able**

Hildenbrand is in Minnesota serving as a delegate for the first time, but it's his third Republican National Convention. And although he will play a role in nominating Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for the presidency, it wasn't long ago when Hildenbrand professed he'd be managing a fairly large population.

"He told me in 10th grade he wanted to become governor of this state," said Pete Siler, one of Hildenbrand's teachers and adviser of his Future Farmers of America chapter at Lowell High School. "He is a leader and he knows how to lead."

Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, serves on the House Commerce Committee with Hildenbrand and said there are not enough good things to say about the Lowell representative.

"I could easily see Dave going to the Senate," Jones said. "He's a bright young man and a hard worker. I see a bright future for him."

Even though he confessed grandiose political desires to Siler in high school, Hildenbrand said he "fell into politics." The 1996 MSU graduate was originally headed for a sales position after earning a degree in agriculture economics, but then-Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus offered him a role as district representative.

"I took a kind of complete 180 turn from the private sector in sales to working here in the Legislature," Hildenbrand said. "I never thought about running for office. I got involved in a lot of activities in high school and college, but never really considered that I would be doing this."

Siler said he doesn't expect Hildenbrand to be caged in one place for long. He described Hildenbrand as someone who sets very lofty goals and won't back off. For this reason, Siler consistently uses Hildenbrand as an example of somebody who has made it in life, making Hildenbrand almost a golden standard for which budding high school students could aim.

Siler often tells of the time when Hildenbrand lost the election for state president of the Future Farmers of America position. Siler knew that wasn't the last he would hear of Hildenbrand's campaigning -- he ran again the next year and won.

"He had had a lot of success to that point and hadn't really lost anything," Siler said of the valedictorian. "The next day he showed up in my room and he looked a little down in the mouth, so I said, 'Well Dave, what's next?' He thought about it for a second and asked me, 'What do you think I'm going to do?'

"He had a little smile on his face when he said it and I can still see it."

**MSU's next-door neighbor**

Hildenbrand will never forget where he's come from.

He makes it to about four MSU football games and six basketball games each year. He is a self-proclaimed "die-hard, loyal Spartan" who began cheering for the school because of its agricultural pedigree.

With East Lansing on the Capitol Building's doorstep, it's not too difficult for Hildenbrand to get a feel for the MSU climate this time of year -- presidential election season.

"It's a huge election and I think people will be aligning themselves with both candidates very strongly and already have," he said.

Hildenbrand, while a politician by title, said he understands it's easy to not get involved in the presidential process.

"It wasn't that long ago when I was in that age group," he said. "It's just not a priority in your life for a majority of people. There's other things going on in their lives or their world where they don't make it a priority."

But as Hildenbrand mingles with senators and representatives in Minnesota, it's clear he is someone with a solid list of priorities.

And while in Minnesota, he hasn't forgotten about his home in Michigan -- and his home hasn't forgotten about him.

"I'm watching his progress with a good deal of pride and satisfaction," Siler said. "He's a young man who made my job worthwhile."