Undergraduate student government officer Carlos Quintanilla stepped down as Facilities commissioner Thursday evening for personal reasons.
Quintanilla is the third councilmember to resign citing personal reasons from the 2014-2015 Undergraduate Students Association Council.
“I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to finish my term,” Quintanilla said. “It was a great opportunity … (but) I know council can overcome this.”
Assistant Facilities Commissioner Sean Murphy, a fourth-year environmental science student, will run the office until USAC appoints a new commissioner. Quintanilla and Murphy could not be reached immediately for comment on his resignation.
USAC President Avinoam Baral said he would hold open interviews and bring an appointment before council by Tuesday of the second week of spring.
The USAC constitution calls for a replacement within 21 days if a voting seat becomes vacant after the midpoint in the councilmember’s term. USAC must fill the vacancy after open interviews and a majority of council must approve an appointment nominated by the president.
Although USAC must appoint someone to run the commission and vote at council until the end of this term, the appointee will only serve for a few weeks before a new council is elected. USAC elections will run from April 27 to May 1.
In April last year, after former Community Service Commissioner Omar Arce was charged with sexual battery and became ineligible for office near the end of his term, USAC unanimously appointed his assistant commissioner Alex Lee to fill the position.
Quintanilla ran on platforms to centralize student sustainability efforts, to advocate for safe spaces and to educate students about water conservation.
As Facilities commissioner, Quintanilla added specific bylaws to focus the office on sustainability. He said he hopes his remaining platforms will be completed by his replacement. He gave a list of initiatives to Murphy so that she can help accomplish the goals he set out in his campaign, he added.
Former USAC President Devin Murphy resigned his office in November, and then-Internal Vice President Avinoam Baral filled his vacancy.
Nihal Satyadev, a former general representative, resigned in June, just months after being elected. Current General Representative 2 Sofia Moreno Haq filled his position through a special election vote in the fall.
Quintanilla’s resignation comes one week before candidates for next year’s council are to be announced.
Compiled by Katie Shepherd, Bruin senior staff.
Good riddance. He was a terrible Facilities Commissioner. He should have saved UCLA students the trouble of a lame duck officer and resign much earlier.
Sounds like school is not coming before politics!. Devin’s resignation was just a mental breakdown.