The breakdown on the UCSU election final tallies
Hercules, Achilles and Leonidas are all Greek heroes. Smolski, Portman and Finn, the hopeful tri-executive candidates from the Value ticket, won’t be added to the list.
By 8 p.m. Friday, more than 23 percent of the 26,808 eligible voters on campus had spoken and voted into office the entire Unity ticket in a landslide victory that marks the end of a Greek-dominated year in CU student politics.
An explosion of excitement and applause greeted those awaiting the final results of the student elections Friday evening outside of the UCSU office in the UMC. Charles Gilford III, Hadley Brown and Sara Davine of the Unity tri-executive ticket took the election with a total vote of 3,536. Benjamin Finn, Jamie Smolski and Taylor Portman of the Value Tri-executive ticket came in second with a vote of 2,150. Thomas Nelson Rowe and Kyle Alan Hawkins of the Hawkins and Homies co-executive ticket finished third with 493 votes.
The Unity platform candidates for representative at large also resoundingly won every seat. Daniel Ramos took 3,295 votes, Dustin Farivar gained 3,244 votes, Abdallah El-Yacoubi received 3,192 votes and Christina Prairie Chicken won 2,957 votes.
The Unity candidates’ platform revolved around an ethnically diverse ticket that promised to reform the UCSU budget process, provide support to student groups and bolster social awareness around campus.
Elyse Kent, the only Value-sanctioned candidate who was elected, was mistakenly listed on the ballot as a Unity candidate. Kent’s victory secures her a spot as an Arts and Sciences Student Government Board member.
Jubilant, newly elected students could be heard throughout the halls of the UMC shrieking in victory. Across the UMC, they ran to check and double-check the results. An overwhelming sense of euphoria gripped the building.
Although the members of the Value ticket were conspicuously absent, their presence was felt as several members of the current Legislative Council and current Tri-executive Andy Aitchison showed up to check the results.
A sullen Aitchison and Legislative Council President Joe Martinez declined comment.
Smolski made the following statement on behalf of the Value ticket.
“We are saddened by the way we were portrayed this week in terms of the negative rumors and lies that were spread about our campaign, but we are really proud of ourselves and the work we put into it.”
Rowe and Hawkins of the Hawkins and Homies ticket also left the UMC in an overcast mood. Rowe believes there are an abundance of campaign issues and potential improprieties that need to be addressed, particularly concerning campaign funding.
“I congratulate (Unity) on their victory right now,” Rowe said. “However, I think that when everything is settled out and tomorrow at 7 o’clock when the information is available for the financial reports, it’s going to be interesting to see what they have.”
Gilford and Brown were overwhelmed by their victory.
“For everyone who helped and voted, without you, none of this would be possible. For all of the wonderful students who supported us, who saw our vision, we can’t wait to start working even harder for you,” Gilford said, shortly after receiving the news of his success. “We are completely humbled, and we love you all.”
The results for Arts and Sciences Student Government, Architecture and Planning Student Government, University of Colorado Engineering Council and the various referendums are as follow.
ASSG:
Co-Presidents: Obi Onyeali and Simone Atencio-Martinez (Unity)
ASSG Board: Elyse Kent (Value), Brittany Jackson (Unity), Christine Thai (Unity), Jacklyn Kraft (Unity) and Melina Somoza (Unity)
APSG:
President: Andrew Trujillo
Vice President: Ted Greczyn
Senators: Boyce Postma and Molly Calvani
Representatives: Paul McBride, Sophie Hall and a write-in tie.
UCEC:
President: Brandon Hoffman
Vice Presidents: Luke Hartwig and Eli Grun
Senators: Jenny Yang and Andrew Mohler
Representatives-at-large: Suguna Narayan, Chris Ellerhorst, James Bautsch, Michael Polmear, Andrew Noonan and Drew Gottula and Jeff McCoy
Referendums:
CoPIRG: Yes with 4,447 votes
Bio-diesel: Yes with 5,284 votes
SEAC: Yes with 3,897 votes
Staff writer Vanna Livaditis contributed additional reporting to this article.
For more detailed election results, visit the election Web site.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Brandon Springer at brandon.springer@thecampuspress.com.
