The election results are in, and the Student Government Association at Bakersfield College will change leadership this fall semester.
During Spring Fling week March 22-25, students gathered to vote for their candidates in the Fireside Room on the BC campus. Voting also took place at the Weill Institute and the Delano campus.
Most of the student officials elected will be new to their position this year, except current vice president Chris Ballard, who ran unopposed. Most of the newly elected officials are also currently SGA senators.
New SGA president Lisa English is anticipating her new position and looking forward to July 1, when she will officially take office. English also reflected on the elections and her plans for the new school year.
“It was a really exciting journey,” said English about the election process. “I went to a lot of classes and did a lot of campaigning. I thought that would work for me, instead of just having a picture on the wall.”
“This year, we’re looking forward to continuing the food pantry, of course, and hopefully adding some new things. One of the things I’m really concerned with is the campus renovations and getting some flowers put in,” English said.
English is currently an ambassador for the Agriculture Department and an SGA senator.
Three students ran for the president’s seat in the elections, yet only one student ran for the vice president position. Ballard expressed his opinion about running unopposed in the race as well as his optimism for the upcoming school year.
“While I am disappointed I didn’t have the chance to run a campaign with anyone running against me, I’m glad I get to serve the student body for another year and continue the work I’ve been doing this year,” said Ballard.
“We’d like to continue our work with the food pantry, and we just got word that some of the faculty parking spots will be reserved for students with hybrid cars, which is something we’ve been working with. Campus renovations will continue, and our plans from this year will fall into next year, and we hope to improve the students’ time here as best we can.”
The elections held on campus offered incentives for student voters, such as free T-shirts and a chance to enter into a drawing to win a BC bookstore voucher worth $100.
Many student voters had mixed reactions about being involved in the student elections. Some were more interested in participating and getting involved with BC’s student government, while some only voted because someone asked them to or to receive a free T-shirt.
Student Matt Scofield voted after meeting a candidate on campus.
“I met someone that was campaigning and they told me about what they did,” said Scofield, who also said he probably would not have voted if no one approached him.
Another BC student Chris Kowal said that he was unsure about voting, but did so after speaking with a candidate.
“I didn’t know a lot of people running, and so a lot of questions I had, she answered. So that was good,” said Kowal.
Yet some students felt that their vote is important and that participating is something students should do.
“I think everybody should take a part in their school’s activities; take a part of what’s offered to them,” said BC student John Villanueva.
Student Brenda Leonard is concerned about who is representing the student body and the issues concerning BC.
“I’m voting because we have lots of issues and we need good representation. We need good people to inform us on these issues.”
One of the students who was working with the volunteers from the Kern County Elections Office in the Fireside Room, commented on her experiences with the elections process.
“There was a lot of student participation. Many of the them were very excited and eager to vote,” said Lea Littlefield.
The amount of students that voted in the elections totaled 1,322, according to statistics provided by Athena Laru, election chair and general counsel. The total amount of students currently enrolled at BC, according to the admissions and records office, is 17,632. The amount of students that participated in the elections equaled out to about 7.5 percent of the student body’s populace.
Student Government Association Election Results:
President:
Lisa English, 672
Katy Ermigarat, 336
Eric Washum, 289
Vice-President:
Chris Ballard, 1,253
Activities Liaison:
Tawtannisha Thompson, 387 Edgardo Guzman, 339
Bryan Blackmon, 338
Dannie Genel, 240
Treasurer:
Miranda Whipple, 1,258
Secretary:
Andrea Williams, 725
Sally Clausen, 561
Legislative Liaison:
Katrina Oldershaw, 630
William Haywood, 357
Jedediah Wright, 309
General Counsel:
Seth Hill, 1,271
Senators 01 & 02:
Susan Keen, 746
Joseph Rogel, 535