Due to excessive absences of a former senator, a new Associated Students, Inc. senator was voted into office Wednesday to represent the Lyles College of Engineering.

Marco Castaneda, 20, a geomatics engineering major, was voted in by current ASI senators nearly unanimously after he made his case.

Castaneda received all but two votes.

“It was between me and another candidate, Joshua Raymond,” Castaneda said. “We presented our case and I was voted in.”

Castaneda replaces the seat vacated by Adrienne Olaivar who had missed too many ASI meetings.

With such a large portion of the vote, Castaneda has the endorsement of ASI as he begins work to represent the engineering side of Fresno State.

“ASI was searching for a candidate who was passionate about ASI, wanted to work hard, and was best to represent the Lyles College of Engineering,” ASI communications assistant Jordan King said. “ASI believes Marco is a well-qualified candidate.”

Castaneda, who is from Manteca is a member of the Student Association of Geomatic Engineers, the California Land Surveying Association Student Chapter, and the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Castaneda described himself as determined with a strong work ethic and said he hoped to represent fellow engineers as best he could.

“I wanted to make sure my college had a voice and knew that when an opportunity like this presented itself I should seize it,” Castaneda said. “Getting involved with ASI is giving me the chance to have a leadership role, and I look forward to making a positive impact for the student body and for my college.”