Center for Voting and Democracy

UC Davis California Aggie

"Student Focus slate nearly sweeps senate election"
By Lisa Feng
February 21, 2003

Cheers from Student Focus candidates and supporters rang continuously Thursday morning when it was announced that the slate nabbed five out of six contested ASUCD Senate seats in this week's election.

Student Focus candidates Paloma P��rez, Sonia Kwon, Jake Saber, Cameron Menezes and Raj Gupta were the top five vote-getters in a significant win for the Student Focus ticket. Its executive ticket, Sara Henry and Kalen Gallagher, also won.

First-year student Behzad Farahbakhsh was the only Student Focus candidate not to win.

LeVale Simpson secured one seat for the Lead, Empowerment, Activism and Determination slate. No independent candidates were elected.

As a result of these elections, Student Focus and UNITE will hold an eight to four advantage over L.E.A.D. in senate.

The last overwhelming win by a slate was UNITE��s five-seat victory in fall 2001. In winter 2001, L.E.A.D. won all six senate seats and the executive office under the campaign headed by former ASUCD President Tiqula Bledsoe.

Senator-elect P��rez received 1,656 votes, the most of any candidate in this election.

"I am in shock," she said. "I truly believe that from the get-go, we [Student Focus] were the most qualified and the most passionate and that��s why we deserve this."

Regarding the numerical advantage within the senate for Student Focus and UNITE, P��rez said that she has always tried to keep a neutral relationship with senators and that even though they run on different tickets, they are all representatives of the student body.

"We shouldn't be separated, and that's something that I truly believe in," said P��rez.

Despite his win, Simpson expressed disappointment about L.E.A.D. not being able to secure more seats.

"I feel like we had a great slate," said Simpson. "We're still going to accomplish and see through everything."

Simpson, who won with 1,428 votes, assured students that "L.E.A.D. is still here."

Kimberly Kunaniec from L.E.A.D. said that she does not plan to run again for senate. Kunaniec said that she will stay with the Environmental Policy and Planning Commission and perhaps pursue the EPPC chair position.

"We've got our commissions and organizations and we're going to get everything done regardless of who��s sitting in senate meetings," said Kunaniec about the lack of L.E.A.D. representation in senate.

Sonny Mohammadzadeh won the most votes of the independent candidates with 1,005. Although he did not win a senate seat, his Choice Voting Amendment passed.

Mohammadzadeh said that if he does not decide to graduate in spring 2004, there is a good chance that he will run again next year and launch his campaign earlier.

"I was completely inexperienced this quarter, and now I have experience," said Mohammadzadeh.

Mohammadzadeh said that his chances will increase because of the Choice Voting Amendment. He said that "the playing field is much more even now for people who cannot afford to make 30,000 flyers."