Fiefia second two-term student body prez
For the second time in USU history, a presidential candidate was voted to serve a second term during the 2014 USU Student Association student government elections.
Doug Fiefia received 1,885 votes, including USU regional campuses, claiming almost 53 percent of the total count. Opposing candidate Ryan Lambert received 245 fewer votes than Fiefia.
Fiefia campaigned on the promise of implementing a more cost-effective tuition model and creating a simple process for students to get involved.
Lambert ran his campaign based on electing a new voice and fresh ideas to hold the presidential position.
Though he lost, Lambert said the campaign process was “a humbling experience.”
“The campaign that we ran was better than I expected,” he said. “The support that came out was overwhelming. I told everybody before the announcement, ‘Win or lose we have nothing to be ashamed of because we ran a great campaign.'”
Another difference in this year’s elections was a last-minute change to the bylaws. The change allowed potential write-in candidates to receive their name on the final ballot if they received the most or second-highest number of votes in the primary election or 10 percent of the highest number of votes.
John Wicker ran an write-in campaign against Shelby Clayson for the College of Education and Human Services senator. Wicker received enough votes to be on the final ballot, but Clayson won by 355 votes.
Oakman Kennedy and Michelle Staples campaign as write-in candidates against Zoe Fairbairn for Programming vice president, but neither received enough votes to be on the final ballot.
Another difference this year is the absence of a new S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources senator. Patrick Adams ran unopposed until Wednesday when he withdrew because of he received the opportunity to study abroad during the fall semester.
Because of the vacant position, another election will be held after spring break. The filing deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 4.
Polls closed at 3 p.m. on Feb. 27. Just a few hours later, election committee chairs Shelby Frauen and Kaela Baucom announced the results in the Taggart Student Center International Lounge. The newly elected candidates took their place on the stage and replaced the current serving candidates.
“It’s going to be a great year next year,” said Daryn Frischknecht, 2013-14 Student Advocate VP. “You know they have some awesome leadership going on and I think they’ll all be able to work together and succeed.”
Current vice presidents and senators still have a few weeks of service left, but some aren’t ready to leave.
“There’s still things I want to get done,” said outgoing Service VP Kevin Meacham. “I trust Leah and everything she’s going to do now. It’s out of my control, out of my power. I trust she’s going to do the right thing.”
Frischknecht said it was an emotional evening to hand over her position.
“The elections and results of last year are running through my mind and it’s exciting and I’m excited for all the new candidates, but it’s very sentimental,” she said.
The inauguration for 2014-15 USU/SA officers is April 18.
– daniellekmanley@gmail.com
Twitter: @daniellekmanley