SGA presidential candidate Dawson Spencer’s promotional flyer on social media. Graphic provided by Instagram user @governordawson
Western Carolina University’s Student Government Association is holding elections to seek the next student body president and vice president.
SGA hosted the presidential debate on Feb. 25 at 6 pm in the UC Theatre. The vice-presidential debates will take place Feb. 27 at the same time and location.
Dawson Spencer, current SGA vice-president, is running for president. Spencer has served numerous roles, aside from his current role, within SGA including senator, parliamentarian, and president pro tempore (which leads senate meetings if the vice-president is not present).
According to the candidate guide on SGA’s engage page, Spencer is focusing his candidacy on professionalism, transparency and accountable leadership.
SGA presidential candidate Tristan Benson, promotion on social media. Photo provided by Instagram user @nuzeta_alphas
Running against Spencer is another prominent SGA member, Tristan Benson, having served as a senator, parliamentarian, and president pro-tempore, as well. Benson’s focus areas are mutual respect, consistency and elevate.
Vice-presidential candidates are Aaron Speyer and Kasson Mitchell. Speyer currently serves under SGA president David Rhode’s executive cabinet as the Director of Finance. Before his current role he served as a senator. Speyer’s focuses are health and safety, community engagement and stronger representation.
Mitchell is currently a senator, chair of the Finance committee and a member of the dining committee in SGA. Mitchell is focusing on diversity, student involvement and unity.
These positions come with significant benefits and responsibilities that the student body should take into account when voting. Presidential, vice-presidential and executive member positions are paid annual salaries. The president gets paid about $6000, while the vice-president makes around $4000. Each executive member gets paid about $2700. Some of the important tasks SGA is tasked with doing is handling an annual budget of about $140,000, which includes supplemental funding for registered student organizations.
Elections are via WCU Engage on March 2 and 3.
WCJ will provide an in-depth analysis of SGA in the near future.
