Two candidates gave campaign speeches at the Student Government Association’s Press Night which reached only the eight-person audience in attendance, which included current SGA members and the press.
Matthew Enriquez Manrique is running for the position of Class of 2020 Vice President and Gregory Massimino-Garcia is running for Class of 2018 President. The two are the only students officially on the ballot for the election scheduled for Oct. 11 and 12, but write-in candidates are still eligible up until voting closes at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 12. There are six vacant seats at the moment.
“What’s special about this is that people who are elected for this are immediately in their positions whereas the people who are going to be elected in November won’t assume that position until January,” Chief Justice Ally MacLean said.
A special election was decided upon over the summer months when six seats were left vacant after the spring elections and there were several resignations. Those included Class of 2018 President, Class of 2019 Treasurer, Class of 2019 Senator, Class of 2020 Vice President, Marketing and Communications Senator, and Writing, Literature and Publishing Senator.
“[SGA] felt it was pretty important to try to get people into these positions as soon as possible rather than wait until next semester,” MacLean said.
The lack of participation from the student body has been a reccurring theme in SGA. MacLean said there hasn’t been a contested campaign in two consecutive years.
“I am not satisfied with the engagement of the class. The fact that I am running unopposed speaks for itself,” Manrique said in his speech.
MacLean said SGA recently appointed a new public relations leader who hopes her position can help spread the word about the work SGA does.
Write-in candidates still have to get the required 50 signatures and maintain a 2.7 GPA. MacLean said anyone is welcome to enter as a write-in candidate until the polls close if they are interested in joining SGA.
“We really do want people to join us. We always like having new voices in the room,” she said.
Deputy News Editor Max Reyes did not edit this article.
