FEDS Election 2007 Results

This article originally appeared in Imprint, University of Waterloo’s official student newspaper
- February 16, 2007

The results of the 2007 Feds Elections.

President
Kevin Royal 1706
Adam Schubert 740
Michelle Zakrison 1202
Declined 94
Turnout  – 16.5%

 

Vice-President, Administration & Finance
Arthur Chan 1509
Del Pereira 1610
Declined 182
Turnout  – 14.6%

 

Vice-President, Education
Stuart Hastings 1257
Jonah Levine 1530
Declined 251
Turnout  – 13.3%

 

Vice-President, Internal
Darcy Higgins 1472
Nhu Nhat Nguyen 536
Faraz Warsi 1320
Declined 166
Turnout  – 14.6%

 

Senate At-Large
Renjie Butalid 1611
Keith Chan 602
Mohamed Farid 458
Declined 294
Turnout  -  13.9% (21267)

 

AHS Senate
Shahnawaz Ali 38 (Disqualified)
Jenna Van Draanen 221
Declined 12
Turnout  – 16.9% (1600)

 

Arts Senate
Steven Hayle 388
Lu Jiang 202
Steve Ryder 146
Declined 99
Turnout  – 15.3% (5453)

 

Math Senate
Eric Diep 55
Aly Sivji 248
Declined 39
Turnout  – 11.2% (4547)

***

This article originally appeared in Imprint, University of Waterloo’s official student newspaper
- February 16, 2007

FEDS Executives-elect React to Election Results

by Darren Hutz

The Bombshelter was unusually crowded for a Friday morning when Ian MacKinnon announced the results of this year’s Feds election on February 17 — and it sure wasn’t for the cheap pitchers.

 

A plethora of concerned students, councilors, candidates and members of the press congregated around refreshments in front of the Bomber stage while waiting anxiously for the official announcement. As MacKinnon rifled off numbers and positions, the whole room was in a state of elation. Reactions ranged from celebration to utter disbelief.

 

“When you’re up against an incumbent, anything can happen,” commented presidential victor Kevin Royal referring to Michelle Zakrison whom he defeated by over 500 votes. Royal didn’t relish in his opponent’s loss though, “I have a lot of respect for [Zakrison] and what she has done for the organization. She ran her campaign with respect, with class and with grace.” He spoke highly of third place candidate Adam Schubert, saying “[Schubert] was an acquaintance before this race, and has become a close friend.”

 

By far, the closest race was that for VP admin and finance. Del Pereira beat Arthur Chan, who was not in attendance for the announcement, by only 101 votes. Pereira celebrated with a round of tequila from the bar for a few supporters. “I always thought it would be a close race,” he commented, dusting the salt off his hand. “Arthur had a good network,” he continued, referring to his opponent Arthur Chan, “being a residence don — he might’ve got the first year vote. Overall I think people saw what I was doing with Bomber and thought I would do a good job.”

 

When asked about his future successor, recently elected senator-at-large Renjie Butalid said, “I’ve worked with [Pereira] on a number of things including Fed Hall. Overall, I have full confidence in [him].” Butalid continued, “he’ll hit the ground running right from the get-go and he knows a lot of the staff already, he knows the structure of Feds from an internal perspective.”

 

Darcy Higgins, fellow member of Team eX, echoed Pereira’s expectation. He attributed his victory as VP internal differently. “I had a lot of volunteers, and a lot of people getting out to vote. I talked to a lot of people, I had a solid platform and I started early,” said Higgins.

 

With the announcement of VP Education, Stuart Hastings, after having run for Feds a second year in a row, made sure he was the first to congratulate Team Yellow’s Jonah Levine. Levine was unavailable for comment.

 

One of the challenges facing the incoming executive will be the fact that it is formed from two tickets, with Pereira and Higgins from Team eX and Levine and Royal from Team Yellow. Royal doesn’t expect a big problem though, ”I have a strong personal relationship with [Higgins] and [Pereira] and I anticipate a productive and exciting year in office. The days of rivaling tickets — Team eX and Team Yellow — are in the past, and the four of us form a new team that will lead the Feds during the ‘07/‘08 calendar year. […] We’ll balance the priorities of both our platforms, and build a solid agenda that will benefit the student body as a whole. I’m approaching that meeting with an open mind and a willingness to listen.”