SSU Associated Students election results - Ojeda wins president

Shared from: Sonoma State Star 

Written by: Heba Made, Staff Writer 

By a two-to-one margin, Junior Manny Ojeda won the race for Associated Students president of Sonoma State University Tuesday evening. With a crowd of approximately 50 people watching at Lobo’s Cafe, Student Government Coordinator Asha Nettles announced election results around 7 p.m. Elections took place April 9 and 10 through electronic ballot emailed to the student body.

In all, 1019 students cast ballots. The final count showed Ojeda won with 679 (66.6 percent) of the votes. Junior Trevor Chapman finished second with 340 votes or 33.4 percent.

Ojeda was not in attendance to hear the results. But contacted later by phone, he said, “I am so thankful for this amazing opportunity. I truly am at a loss for words, but I do want to say that my motivation to run for AS president was the contributions I know I can make to SSU.”

“I’m really excited for Manny,” said Chapman, an early childhood studies major. “I’m really glad if it wasn’t me, that it’s Manny. I hope he does his best.”

 Ojeda, along with Carley Chatterley, will replace outgoing Wilson Hall and Jason Gorelick as executive president and vice president in May. Chatterly and Vice President of Finance winner Christina Gamboa ran unopposed. 

 In addition to executive positions, senator positions were announced.  A lack of competition was also apart of lower AS positions as three senators also ran unopposed, ensuring Fernando Mendoza, Luke Gover and Aracely Duron positions in Associated Students.. 

Noelle Dahl and Natalie Cackler tied in the race for the senator for School of Arts and Humanities, meaning in a run-off will take place on May 1. 

Seven AS senator positions are still open, but according to AS, there will be another election for students who are willing to run.

 “I’m really excited to work my colleagues and make it another great year,” said Gamboa, current senator for undeclared students and vice president of finance-elect. “I look forward to being able to gain a better knowledge for what the students want from the university and how we can advocate for them at the table.”

 Chapman said he plans to run for senator of education. “Although the results weren’t what I expected, my plan from here is to regroup with students,” he said. “You don’t need to be president to voice opinions on tuition heights, asbestos or anything else, you just need to be active.”