By Raven TysonAssistant City Editor
Voters turned out in an overwhelming number to elect next year’sAssociated Students executive officers and councilmembers.
Election results came in early morning on March 29. At a littlepast midnight, candidates with more than 100 supporters filed intoCouncil Chambers in lower Aztec Center to hear the results. Thewinners — Priscilla Ocen for A.S. president, Juanita Salas for A.S.executive vice president, Marivic Tolentino for A.S. vice presidentof external affairs and Ryan Tolentino for A.S. vice president offinance.
Supporters said it was one of the largest turnouts for theannouncement in recent years.
This year, 3,347 — or 10.58 percent of the student population –voted March 25-28. Voter participation was also higher in theelections than the recent fee referendum — 3,269 students votedMarch 13-14.
Ocen said she is really happy with the voter turnout.
“I feel really good,” Ocen said. “We went out there with a messageand students responded.”
Ocen said competition is good for voter turnout.
For the past two years, the A.S. presidential candidate ranunopposed; this year, however,
there were two students battling for the top position. There werealso two candidates running for the role of A.S. executive vicepresident, as well as two people competing to be next year’s A.S.vice president of finance. The biggest competition was for theposition of A.S. vice president of external affairs — fourcandidates ran.
Ocen also said she was proud of all the can-
didates. She said all of the candidates conducted themselves in anhonorable way.
However, she did admit that the end of the election week was”bringing out the worst” in some candidates, but for the most part itwas positive. She said there were a few “nasty complaints.”
Of the students who voted, nearly 67 percent elected Ocen.
Her opponent, current A.S. College of Sciences representative JoshMiller, received 33 percent.
Salassaid that everything went well, including campaigning.
Salas said voter participation was boosted by the fact thatcandidates were making presentations, talking to studentorganizations and shaking hands on Centennial Walkway.
“We let people know about us and what the issues are,” she said.
Salas said she is looking forward to next year to see more changeson campus and get the student voice heard.
Salas received 2,413 votes, while her opponent, Native AmericanStudent Alliance chair Manny Lieras, received 685.
Ocen and Salas will be working with fellow executive officers A.S.Vice President of External Affairs Marivic Tolentino and A.S. VicePresident of Finance Ryan Tolentino.
Marivic Tolentino came out on top with 1,480 votes. MovimientoEstudiantil Chicano de Aztlan chairman Ron Gochez received 376 votes,A.S. College of Arts and Letters representative Jeffrey Obayashiobtained 781 votes and Juan Zubiate, who works in the A.S. BusinessAffairs Office, received 681 votes.
Newly elected vice president of finance Ryan Tolentino received2,394 votes, and opponent Felix Diaz obtained 685.
Students also elected College Council representatives during theelection. The College of Arts and Letters three seats: JustinOrenstein, Truong Diep and Andrew Gallacher; College of BusinessAdministration four seats: Tracy Glinka, Brett Pearsall, ReginaHoshlma and one unfilled seat; College of Education and LiberalStudies two seats: Jerome Budomo and Holly Makowsky; College ofEngineering one seat: Scott Simpson; College of Health and HumanServices one seat: Neremiah Sanchez Castano; College of ProfessionalStudies and Fine Arts five seats: Adelle Gomelsky, Cristina Ruiz, SamRabourn, Patricia Funes and one unfilled seat; College of Sciencesthree seats: Christina Campbell, Tricia Solomon and Nasik Pasha; andUndeclared three seats: Kristina Jacobs and two unfilled seats.
Election results aren’t final until the current A.S. Councilapproves the results. Executive officers and councilmembers will takeover at the last council meeting in May.
— Jessica Zisko, city editor, contributed to this article
