Student Action Wins Top Spots, Narrow Hold on Senate

With new President Manny Buenrostro at the helm, the Student Action party will lead the ASUC next year with all four executive positions and a plurality in the senate.

Student Action candidates beat out their CalSERVE competitors for the four executive positions. Independent candidate Vikrum Aiyer took the student advocate seat.

Buenrostro, a junior and a senator this year, quickly emerged as the front-runner during Friday's vote tally, beating CalSERVE's Justine Lazaro by more than 900 votes out of about 6,426 cast.

Student Action also won a plurality in the senate with eight senators to CalSERVE's seven. This year's senate closed with 10 senators from Student Action and seven from CalSERVE.

The Elections Council tabulated votes Friday night in the senate chambers before a tense crowd of candidates and onlookers. A computer malfunction delayed the tally for nearly an hour and a half.

Buenrostro said he wants to help the ASUC become less partisan and use his office to educate students about relevant political and social issues, like the genocide in Darfur and affirmative action.

Sophomore and Senator Anil Daryani, who will take on the executive vice president post and chair senate meetings next year, said Student Action deserved the sweep.

Student Action newcomer Sharon Han, a junior, was elected external affairs vice president, a position that has gone to CalSERVE in the last two years. Junior Jason Dixson, a senator this year, was elected academic affairs vice president.

CalSERVE candidates vowed to fulfill their campaign promises of increasing minority representation and student activism despite the loss.

Student Action, which has dominated the executive branch for the past decade, last swept the ASUC's top positions three years ago. CalSERVE broke the pattern in 2003, winning all four spots.

"Everyone's going to meet as a coalition to see what the priorities are, what issues are affected by the senators that didn't get in," said CalSERVE candidate Linda Salinas, who was the runner-up for external affairs vice president.

Election results followed an unexpectedly civil election season. CalSERVE Party Signatory Liz Hall and Student Action Chair Bret Manley negotiated to settle party lawsuits outside the Judicial Council to avoid delaying results.

Last year's results were released in June after a number of suits, including one that went to federal court and may cost the ASUC $15,000 to settle.

Judicial Council Chair Robert Gregg said the council will validate the results Tuesday.

Tags: