Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 5/10/06 Section: Headlines

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Students gathered in the Oregon Room yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, May 2, to listen to the first of two student-government candidate forums.

Various students running for positions for the 2006-2007 Associated Students of Western Oregon University (ASWOU) cabinet delivered speeches to a small, yet inquisitive, audience.

The second candidate forum is set to take place on Thursday, May 4, in the Oregon Room at 7:30 p.m.

The candidates running, according to current Judicial Administrator Andrew Fowler, are as follows:

 

President-Carl Fisher, Samuel Hobbs, Patrick Waugh

Vice President-Mariko Chambers, Richard Misar, Trevor Setvin

Senate President-Jonathan Valder, Michael Washburn

Judicial Administrator-Misty Downey, Rachel Johnson

 

Student Activities Board

Director-Nicole Seery

Senators-Gerry Blakney, Heather Case, Kevin Coddington, Arlo Crain, Matthew Doyle, Tiffani McCoy

Current ASWOU President Justin Tomlin gave his comments on the candidates running for President, Vice President and Senate President:

 

President

Tomlin said he feels that either Waugh or Fisher would do an excellent job serving as the student-body president. "They both have very strong leadership characteristics," he said.

Both Fisher and Waugh, according to Tomlin, would excel in separate areas of the position as "their strengths lie in different places," he said.

Tomlin expressed that Waugh, who is currently the ASWOU Director of Business and Finance, would do well representing Western students as he has been an "active member of this campus."

Senate President Fisher, on the other hand, Tomlin said, would excel in representing Western on the state level. Fisher, according to Tomlin, has connections across the state. "He knows everybody in Oregon politics," Tomlin said.

Despite their disparities, Tomlin said it is imperative for ASWOU to have a strong president coming into office for the 2006-2007 year.

"ASWOU has gone through a rough couple of years," he said, "and having a strong leader is going to be vital."

As for the final candidate-Samuel Hobbs-Tomlin said he couldn't voice any statements since he has "never even met him."

 

Vice President

Tomlin said that all three candidates bring good qualities to the table. "I've worked with all three," he said, "in many different ways."

Chambers, who currently resides as ASWOU Chief of Staff, brings "experience and dedication," Tomlin said.

Misar, Tomlin said, brings experience from the Resident Hall Association (RHA) and can bring help in "unifying the campus."

Setvin, who has served as a senator in the past and is a member of the PLUS team, is "a very energetic person," Tomlin said, and would be "able to put in long hours."

 

Senate President

Out of the two students running for the position for Senate President, Tomlin said one of them has experience as a senator-Jonathan Valder, who is currently serving as the Senate Protem. Tomlin describes Valder as a "man who leads by his actions."

Washburn, a freshman, has "no experience within ASWOU," Tomlin said. He does, however, have experience with the residence halls, Tomlin said.

 

*Voting starts next week-Monday, May 8 through Thursday, May 11.

 

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