Attention students of Bakersfield College: You have a new leader.
John Lopez, BC computer?science major, defeated the SGA veteran Alan?Crane to win the presidency of the Student Government?Association.
Lopez defeated?Crane by securing 66% (364 votes) of the votes while Crane only secured 33.3% (184 votes) of the votes.
Crane said that he was a little surprised by the 66% margin?but added, “The?students have spoken and said that they want John as a?president. I am sure he will do a fine job. He will have the support of a team which is absolutely the most qualified executive team ever?put together at BC.”
Crane, who currently serves as legislative liaison of the SGA and president of the statewide student senate, added that he is planning to go back to being a regular student when his state term is up in June.
“I plan to dedicate my time to my studies, my wife and my bass guitar.”
Lopez said he was excited and?happy that he won. “It was a long week of campaigning. I was just relieved to get it over with,” Lopez said.?
Lopez?outlined his goals for his term in office, “I want to create more publicity for the SGA, I want students to be aware that we have an SGA on campus,” Lopez said.
“I want students to come to me with their ideas; I look forward to working with everyone who won whether they ran opposed or unopposed.”
Other positions that were filled: Leah Crane, running unopposed, won vice president with 60.5 % of the votes (305 votes), while the other 39.4% (199 votes) went to write-in candidates.
Osmond Param, running unopposed, was re-elected as secretary with a margin of 92% (322 votes); the other 8% (28 votes) went to write-in candidates.
Kristin Trailor beat out Tamera Langdon as treasurer with a margin of 61.2% (295 votes). Langdon took 37.9 % (183 votes).
Former?SGA?Vice President Erica Grall defeated Victor Ekanem with a margin of 55.7% (214 votes) to win the position of general counsel; Ekanem had 43.4% (167).
Former SGA President?Ash West won legislative liaison with a margin of 97.3%. West was also running unopposed. Matthew Jenkins won activities liaison with 95% (347 votes) as he was also running unopposed.
Voter turnout was 566 people, which is approximately 3.7% of the student body.
Langdon expressed her disappointment in not winning re-election. “I am going to miss being treasurer. I am a little disappointed, but it’s just someone else’s time to hold the office,” Langdon said.
Langdon said that she still plans to be a part of the SGA. “I am going to apply for a senator position. I am looking forward to being a senator again. I have no problem with that,” Langdon said. “I love being a part of the SGA, and that’s what it’s really all about.”
Param said that he was honored to be re-elected as secretary. “I want to thank all the students who?checked out our slate website and all the teachers who gave their students the?information on?how to vote. I?look forward to working with the new group next year.”
Dean of Students Don Turney said that he appreciates the help that the faculty gave in announcing the elections and the events that the SGA had during the election week. “It was a good hard fought election, I was happy with how all the candidates conducted themselves during this election,” Turney said.
Turney speaking about the newly elected group said, “We have a real nice blend of new faces and old hands. Almost every position was contested this year as opposed to last year where only one position (president) was contested which was kind of neat.”