Understanding governmental processes and operations is the most crucial trait of any candidate running for office.
A candidate’s platform is his or her best outlet for demonstrating this knowledge. The purpose of a presidential and vice presidential platform is to inform voters of what the candidates would like to accomplish if voted into office, their views and values, and their plan to carry out the presented ideas.
It is equally important for voters to understand the governmental processes and operations, and the issues candidates present in their platforms.
The 2012-2013 ASUI President and Vice Presidential election is no different. In many ways, whomever is elected will impact the pockets and lives of University of Idaho students more than whomever wins the U.S. presidential election in November.
We have seen this year, through Samantha Perez’s audit of the dedicated student fee and proposed zero percent increase, that ASUI presidents can make a positive impact on the financial state of the students they represent.
Perez and Vice President Juan Corona ran unopposed on a platform of increased visibility and accessibility of ASUI. Their goal has always been to educate and make students aware that their voices are heard.
Perez and Corona listened to the student body and enacted a positive change to reflect students’ sentiments — in this case, by not increasing the dedicated student fee. While some still disagree, remodeling the ASUI office — which involved a minimal dollar amount in the overall budget — has created a more accessible space and is already being used more often than prior to the redesign.
These examples show how Perez and Corona held true to their platform and demonstrated their understanding of how the university operates, the complexity of its budget and the process required to accomplish their initial goals.
No one is perfect, but the decisions Perez and Corona made this year are exemplary for next year’s candidates of realistic ASUI president and vice presidential action.
As of right now, the platforms for next year’s candidates lack perspective. It is the responsibility of voters to hold them accountable. This year has shown students what to expect from their ASUI president and vice president and it is with this example in mind that votes should be cast.
Generally, ASUI elections feature a clear front-runner who will become the next president, but this year it’s anybody’s race. The candidates who show they have the competitive drive to inform voters and the integrity and courage to follow through once elected will determine the outcome.
— ER