Like mother, like daughter. At least that’s the case for junior Brooke Mosteller.

Mosteller’s mother, Cyndi Mosteller, is the chairman of the Charleston County Republican Party. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Mosteller is highly involved in Charleston TARS, a club for “Teenage Republicans.”

“It’s here to help teens get involved with politics and our country,” Mosteller said.

The group meets occasionally at T-Bonz to socialize and discuss current issues. Mosteller helps plan the meetings and makes phone calls to let the other members know the times and dates of the upcoming meetings. She also helps the president of Charleston TARS run the meetings.

Mrs. Mosteller also visits the group occasionally to talk about local campaigns. She informs the group on what is happening in the political world at the time, what the current issues are and where the Republican Party stands on these issues.

The teenagers also decide how they can help during local elections and the best ways to get involved. One of the ways the group has decided to help is by campaigning during local elections.

“It’s so important for the youth to get involved. Voting is the least you can do, and you need to understand the issues,” Mosteller said.

Charleston TARS also participate in special events, often called “cookies and milk” parties. The TARS recently went to the Republican Convention in Columbia for one such event. Here, Gov. Mark Sanford warned the teens that the Roman Empire declined when one generation stopped getting involved and used this as an example of the importance of involvement of the youth.

Junior Sarah Henderson also attended this particular event.

“I thought it was really interesting to hear the leaders in the community discuss their ideas. It helps you become informed so you can form your own views,” Henderson said.

The group also tackles even bigger issues, discussing current political issues such as abortion, homosexual marriage and the war in Iraq.

Junior Laura Strout likes having the chance to talk about these issues with teenagers who share her same view on them.

“I think it’s really important for all the young Republicans in Charleston to get together, and [for them] to be around people that have the same views,” she said.

However, TARS doesn’t discriminate, Mosteller said. Young Democrats are more than welcome to join the meetings.

“Maybe then we can even have a debate,” Mosteller said.