By Associated Students Inc. President John Haberstroh said he ran for the executive position last year to put the “students” back into ASI – and he isn’t finished yet.
Haberstroh is running for re-election in a race against presidential candidate Sean Zent.
Although no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the general election, Haberstroh came close when he received 3,148 votes or 48.5 percent of the vote. His opponents, Zent and ASI Chief of Staff Jorge Soriano, received 1,849 votes and 1,326 votes, respectively.
A graduate student studying ancient history, Haberstroh has partnered up with ASI Vice President Jonathon Bolin for this year’s race. The running mates ran together in the 2012 ASI elections with no previous ASI experience.
As part of their 2012 platform, Haberstroh and Bolin agreed to take a 30 percent pay cut to fund provide scholarships for students. Haberstroh said that he and Bolin plan to continue their pay cut if they are re-elected.
Haberstroh said given the results of the general election, he feels pretty good about his chances in this year’s run-off election.
“I think the numbers are pretty strong in my direction,” he said. “I still have some work to do, so I can’t take it for granted, but I am optimistic about how it will turn out.”
Although Haberstroh’s running mate did received a large chunk of the vote, 43.3 percent, there is still chance that Haberstroh could serve alongside a candidate he didn’t run with: vice presidential candidate Deshe Gully.
Haberstroh said he and Bolin see things in a similar light, and he feels it would be better for ASI to have a unified leadership. He said he would rather serve with Bolin, but if Gully wins the run-off election, it won’t stop them from getting the job done.
“If Deshe wins, I’m okay with working with him,” Haberstroh said. “I have no animosity. I think we have a job to do if we’re elected, and I think there shouldn’t be anything that prevents us from working towards that goal, which is serving the students.”
Haberstroh said he and Bolin have the current and future success of ASI in mind, which is why they are asking students to give them one more year to finish what they started.
As part of their campaign platform, Haberstroh and Bolin said they plan to buy the shuttle system using ASI funds to prevent reduction in services and price increases to students. Haberstroh and Bolin also said they plan to hire student drivers for the shuttle system.
This year’s platform for the duo also includes bi-weekly farmers markets and a complete reformation of the ASI Bylaws.
“Jonathon [Bolin] and I have started a revolution of change with our student government, and I think it is imperative that we continue to see this revolution through and make sure that all the positive changes that we want to bring are completed, so we can set up future ASI governments on the best footing as possible,” Haberstroh said.
Online voting for the run-off election starts Tuesday and ends Thursday. Results from the run-off election will be announced at the University Student Union Southwest Terrace at 1 p.m.
