Secretary – Kevin Sutherland
Both candidates for secretary displayed different strengths and weaknesses — sociability vs. social media knowledge, Student Government experience vs. technical experience. Ultimately, we believe that Kevin Sutherland is best suited for this position, as he has the most experience dealing with the job’s day-to-day tasks.
While Eric Reath has the SG experience and the charisma of a political candidate, we value the technical skills Sutherland brings to the table more. As the communications director for College Democrats, Sutherland has the communications and social media experience necessary to successfully utilize these tools for SG. If Sutherland can duplicate the type of Web presence he helped create for the College Democrats with SG, then he is the best candidate for the job.
Comptroller – Taylor Yeates
As with last year, the race for Comptroller is a one-man show, but we have no reason to believe that candidate Taylor Yeates will not be successful in this position. Not only does he have the financial background, he also has experience in the very departments he will be overseeing. He also has hands-on experience with the SG budget as chair of the SG Senate Budget Committee this year.
He has also promised to further increase budget transparency by releasing more frequent reports with detailed notes for the financial dunces among us. With the knowledge of how this show seems to run and the wherewithal to recognize infeasible projects, we support Yeates’s unchallenged candidacy.
Vice President – Liz Richards
Liz Richards is not only the standout candidate for SG vice president, she happens to be the only candidate. However, much like Yeates, we believe that she presents a knowledgeable and organized platform that makes her highly qualified. Richards has the connections and the vision necessary to make her propositions a reality.
While we have slight trepidations about her plans to personally take responsibility for the Founders’ Day Ball, we trust that she is as good a person as any for the responsibility to rest with.
We look forward to a year with Richards at the helm.
President – Tim McBride
Among the six individuals campaigning for the top position, one candidate stood out as best able to handle the position’s challenges while maintaining the gains current SG President Nate Bronstein made in regard to school spirit: Tim McBride.
McBride portrays not only an image of confidence in what he can do with SG, but he has the knowledge and dedication to back it up. He has promised to be proactive rather than reactive and has knocked on almost every on-campus resident’s door.
McBride has concrete platforms with a diverse focus and a focus on diversity, in comparison to some of the other candidates who seemed mostly focused on one issue. He has also pledged to keep school spirit alive while incorporating the “big issues.” He will build off Bronstein while taking the necessary next steps.
Our endorsement of McBride is not to say that the other candidates are without potential. Jessica Darmawan shows an earnest dedication to students and the presidency. Joe Schulte, with a year of SG seasoning, could become a stronger candidate for the 2012-2013 presidency. Anthony Dunham has extensive SG and leadership experience — perhaps too much. We endorsed Dunham for the presidency last year and still believe he will be an effective leader if elected.
McBride has the best combination of experience, dedication, support and enthusiasm to lead the SG into the next academic year.
