Slates Take Shape as ASUC Elections Near

With the deadline to file for candidacy in the ASUC elections just two days away, this week will end months of interviews and strategizing in party meetings to select who will run for the student government's coveted four executive seats.

The two rival political parties, progressive CalSERVE and moderate Student Action, are kicking off the elections season this week by releasing their slates-combinations of five people who, based on electability, ideas and party loyalty, are considered the best shot at sweeping the five executive seats.

The road to a spot on the executive slate is a long one, beginning as early as fall or an entire year before, when rumors and frantic name-dropping begin. Both parties, however, start aggressively scoping out candidates in December.

Top contenders are usually party senators, but each party courts outsiders and leaders from their constituent student groups.

CalSERVE draws its base mostly from recruitment and retention centers and underrepresented students, while Student Action relies more on the Greek and athletic vote along with larger campus organizations like the Asian American Association and UC Rally Committee.

Three Student Action party members tried to woo Tuyen Caohuu, former president of the Asian American Association to run for an executive seat with the party one month ago. Although he lacked previous ASUC experience, they stressed that the party would train him.

"I was thinking about running just because I wanted to run, and people just got wind of it," Caohuu said. "I don't know how."

The system works both ways. Other potential candidates toss their names in by talking with top party members.

Although the party courted the inexperienced Caohuu, lack of ASUC know-how is what killed Jake Kloberdanz's chances (at a seat) to be slated.

Kloberdanz, a presidential candidate under newcomer party BEARS-United, originally wanted to run with Student Action, but it rejected him because he had no previous ASUC experience.

"Experience was Student Action's X-factor," Kloberdanz said. "I thought the X-factor should be energy, motivation and leadership."

Interviewing can be the most "intense and intimidating" part, Kloberdanz said. Contenders can face a room of nearly a dozen former executives or long-time senators who grill them on their platforms and electability.

"There are a bunch of people shooting questions at you," Kloberdanz said. "You have to know your stuff. Everyone there is looking at a different part of your character to check up on."

Four main questions are asked during interviews: why the candidate is running and if they have a desire to serve students, what constituencies they represent, what amount of time they will commit, and their platforms and plans for campaigning, said Student Action Senator Devin Andre.

Kloberdanz said that they did not ask for any big goals from his platform, which he said was "kind of surprising."

"They asked me more about my voting pools," Kloberdanz said.

In the past, Student Action used a numerical formula using scores based on "loyalty, electability and intellect" to slate their candidates, Lee said. This year, it did not use the formula.

While Student Action's slating process is confined to a core of senior party members, winning a seat on CalSERVE's slate hinges on approval from their "community"-a coalition of close to 20 progressive student groups.

Continuing a long-held tradition, the party turned to its base late last night in a "community meeting" to finalize the slate.

Groups came together to hash out potential slates and each group was allowed one vote on which arrangement of candidates they thought was the strongest.

Both parties are announcing their slates unusually late in the year. Last year, both came out with their presidential candidates in February, but an internal dispute held back CalSERVE while Student Action had a more difficult time finding experienced candidates who wanted to run.

"We take ownership and responsibility for our last-minute planning," wrote Executive Vice President Taina Gomez in an e-mail obtained by The Daily Californian. "We felt it is more important to begin the collective community decision-making now, learn from our mistakes (yes, we have and will continue to make mistakes), and revise the process to make it better for next year."

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