Opinions

Our View: Students should pay attention to ASI elections

The Associated Students Inc. elections are roughly a month away, and a crop of both new and old faces are gearing up for their campaigns.

Incumbents President and Vice President John Haberstroh and Jonathon Bolin will both bring their successful campaign tactics back to the campus as they gear up for their run at a second term.

Now, well known around campus, the John’s – or the Jon’s, we’re not entirely sure whose name takes priority – will not need to rely on their interesting hairstyles to distinguish themselves from the competition. In their second term campaign, both will be able to rely on their experience, something they didn’t have last election, as their platform for another year in office.

Both Haberstroh and Bolin will have their fair share of competition looking to take over their positions.

Only presidential candidate Jorge Soriano has previous ASI executive campaigning experience. Soriano ran for vice president last year but lost to Bolin.

After the election, Haberstroh appointed Soriano to be a part of his cabinet as Chief of Staff. This year, Soriano chose to throw his name into the hat for president, running against Haberstroh, the man who gave him his current job. The two literally sit feet away from each other in their offices. Talk about awkward.

Newcomer presidential candidate, Sean Zent, will have a lot on his plate if he wants to take down these experienced ASI executives. Zent will need to be careful to follow campaign protocol, because Haberstroh and Soriano will be quick to expose him if he messes up. A blunder could sink his bid at election; however, after seeing the results of last year’s elections, stranger things have happened.

Deshe Gully, Vincent Holguin, Manuel Nieto and Larry Toney round out the remaining candidates for vice president. Along with Bolin, the hunt for the vice president seat will have the most competitors. Their platforms and promises will distinguish each of them from one another in next month’s ASI executive debates.

Finally, Andrew Carnes and Agatha Gucyski will duke it out for the position of treasurer.

Last year’s elections saw the largest voter turnout for campus elections at 14.9 percent. In light of the school’s student population, that is quite low, but hopefully the candidates this year will bring out more student voters than ever before.

It is very important for every student voting in the ASI elections to take the time, just like in any government election, to learn the candidates’ platforms and promises.

It is important to take these elections seriously. These people influence your education and manage your money. It is easy for these candidates to talk the talk in their campaigns and debates, but will they be able to walk the walk when they are elected? That is up for us students to decide.

So take the time to get acquainted with the candidates and their platforms this year. Read the voter guide, go to the debate, meet the candidates at the farmer’s market – oh wait, we haven’t got one yet – but most importantly, vote. 

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