The race for AS positions begins

City Council candidate Michael Karbassi turns his efforts toward winning the student government presidency

By Laban Pelz

Candidates vying to be 2004/2005 Associated Students representatives met and contended with each other Thursday while discussing rules and procedures for upcoming campaigns and elections with the AS Elections Commission.

More than 25 students are running for 15 senatorial positions, while openings for president and vice president of finance claim three candidates each.

Campaigning for AS president are current AS Executive Vice President Molly Fagundes, former Fresno City Council candidate Michael Karbassi and Sigma Chi fraternity President Frank Puccio.

Puccio, a senior majoring in business management, had several ideas he wanted to implement if elected, including the creation of a monthly AS newsletter.

“ I think there’s a number of things we can do,” he said. “I want to stabilize funding for all campus news publications, clubs and organizations, increase services for students and improve facilities.”

Karbassi, a sophomore majoring in political science, said his experience running for city council gave him an outlook helpful for running the presidency.

“ I offer a different perspective,” he said. “AS is the link between students and the university. My job is to facilitate that link.”

Karbassi also had some things he wanted to try.

“ All students are required to take a political science class, and I want AS to communicate with students in these classes,” he said.

Fagundes, a junior majoring in agricultural communication, saw her previous AS experience as essential to being president.

“ I’ve been in AS since I was a freshman,” she said. “Students need someone who knows how AS works.”

She was content with the efforts of this year’s AS, saying “we should continue what we’ve done,” and discounted the notion that Karbassi’s city council experience made him a better candidate.

“ I don’t think he’s ever been on an AS committee. This is a lot different than city council. I hope he knows that,” Fagundes said.

“ Yes,” agreed Karbassi, “if a 700 million dollar budget is different, or dealing with 60,000 people, as opposed to dealing with 20,000 students, is different.”

Karbassi said indeed he was in AS before, serving on the finance committee in 2001.

“ I’m sure that was before even she got involved,” he said.

AS elections will be held April 21 and 22.