A glance at the results might indicate a commanding victory for
the Students First! slate, which won five of six Undergraduate
Students Associated Council runoff election races ““ but in
more than a few cases, the margin of victory was slim.
SF! representatives will hold eight out of a total of 13 USAC
council positions next year after winning all but one race in which
SF! candidates ran.
Each student vote was crucial in this year’s runoff
elections, as no candidate garnered more than 53 percent of the
vote.
The Facilities commissioner was decided by just 29 votes, and
only 11 votes separated Nelson Saldaña, who will serve as
general representative next year, from Amy Lucas, who will not.
Last year also witnessed close elections, with a 37-vote difference
giving current USAC President David Dahle the win.
Only 4,683 students voted this week compared to 5,950 last
week.
Students United for Reform and Equality candidates competed with
SF! for every runoff position. General Representative-elect Joshua
Lawson was the only S.U.R.E. candidate who won, coming in first in
the general representative candidate race.
“They elected me because they believe USAC needs to be an
accessible place. It’s not owned by one group ““
it’s owned by all of us,” Lawson said.
He said the closeness of the votes sends a clear message.
“It tells you students haven’t overwhelmingly
supported Students First!,” Lawson said.
Kelly Wynn, Cultural Affairs commissioner-elect, disagrees,
saying the proof is in the results.
“I think the message is in the people who are
elected,” said Kelly Wynn.
However, Wynn also emphasized the theme SF! had been pushing all
night: the fight does not stop here.
“We take this in stride because our struggle on campus
continues,” she said.
S.U.R.E. candidates ““ those who won and those who
didn’t ““ also vowed to stay active on campus.
“To come out as strong as we did means a lot,” said
Christine Sol, Academic Affairs commissioner candidate. “It
just gives us another motivating factor to come out next
year.”
SF! candidates and supporters cheered and celebrated while
S.U.R.E. candidates and supporters comforted each other as election
results were announced.
Tutram Nguyen, Facilities commissioner-elect, said SF!
candidates came out on top because they educated students about
their platforms and qualifications.
“That’s why we’re here tonight,” she
said.
Linda Lam, general representative-elect, said she is ready to
“gear up for next year” by working with next
year’s council members as soon as possible.
Despite her victory, Lam felt a “mixture of
emotions,” as fellow SF! candidate Jenny Gálvez, the
only SF! candidate who was not elected, came in fifth in the
general representative race.
Even in the face of defeat, Gálvez found support from those
whom she called her “family,” fellow SF!
supporters.
“I think the key word here is
“˜continue,'” Gálvez said, saying she will
keep working with USAC and on projects in downtown Los Angeles and
the surrounding UCLA community.
Sophia Kozak, Academic Affairs commissioner-elect, said she will
promote diversity on campus through workshops and courses
challenging sexism, homophobia and racism.
She said the student body elected her because “people were
able to see I have two years of experience.”
S.U.R.E. candidates who did not secure positions on next
year’s council said they would continue working for the
students whom they fought to represent.
“I’m going to do everything I can,” Lucas
said. “I can’t run again because next year is my last
year … but I don’t care. I love student
government.”
Lawson said he plans to work with SF! to reach out to more
students by increasing USAC’s visibility to the student
body.
Next year, he plans to carry out many of the key components of
his campaign platform, and hopes to implement town hall meetings as
a forum for students to get their voices heard in USAC.
Next year’s council will consist of three independents and
two S.U.R.E. representatives in addition to the eight SF!
councilmembers. All candidates from the United Independents slate
were eliminated in the first round of elections.
This year’s elections had the most runoff election races
since 1998.