AS Elections 2016: The candidates you need to know, now

With candidates battling it out on television nightly for the most powerful seat in the nation, students at SMC are already primed for elections in the current 2016 Spring semester. But before they have to consider making a decision about who they want to lead the free world, SMC students are going to begin casting votes for people much closer to home. Yes , it's that time of year again: it's time for the Associated Student (AS) Elections.

In order to provide the SMC student body with the information necessary to cast their votes wisely for candidates running for 13 different positions, we at The Corsair have been working diligently. Our goal is to bring you the best possible coverage this year by bringing you profiles for each of the major candidates and slates competing for seats on the AS Board of Directors, as well as any news relevant to the election.

The first day that the ballot boxes open at the Main Campus cafeteria and library is Monday, April 4 at 10:00 am, closing three days later on Thursday, April 7 at 4:00 pm.

Until then, click each headline or candidate's name below for more information, and check back here regularly for more information as it becomes available.

NEWS

Fresh Start starts: Interviewing Terrance Ware Jr. on winning the Presidential seat

Winner of the 2016 Associated Srudents Presidential Election, Terrance Ware Jr., poses for a photo in the AS Office on Friday.

On Friday, April 8, the winners of the AS Elections were announced. Terrance Ware Jr. won the presidential seat. that day he found the time to come into the Corsair newsroom for a sit-down interview.

An Independent's Day: Interviewing Adrian M. Restrepo on winning the Vice Presidential seat

Winner of the 2016 Associated Students Presidential Election for Vice President, Terrance Ware Jr., poses for a photo in the AS Office on Friday.

On Friday, April 8, the winners of the AS Elections were announced. Adrian M. Restrepo, who won the Vice Presidential seat, came into the Corsair newsroom for a brief interview about his victory.

Triumph and Defeat: The Official 2016 AS Election Results

Current A.S. president Jesse Randel (left) congratulates Orlando Gonzalez (right) for winning Director of Budget Management on Friday, April 8. (Josue Martinez)

On Friday, April 4, the winners of the election were announced. Click above for the story about who won and lost.

The Corsair hosts the AS Debate on the Clock Tower Quad

Daira Bustos, candidate for Associated Students President at Santa Monica College, addresses the crowd sharing her goals for SMC during the debate at the Clock Tower quad on the Main Campus on Thursday.

On Thursday, March 31, the Corsair hosted a debate between the candidates up for the 2016 AS elections on the Main Campus Clock Tower Quad.

Rueda drops out of race for Sustainability

Darlene Ruedapic2

On Wednesday, March 30, Darlene Rueda dropped out of the 2016 AS Elections. She was originally running for the Director of Sustainability seat.

THE 2016 CANDIDATE PROFILES

Running for AS Secretary:

Dane Cruz, candidate for AS Secretary at Santa Monica College, poses for a photo on Wednesday in Santa Monica.

Dane Cruz (Fresh Start)

Running for Director of Publicity:

Picture provided by Clara Prado.

Clara Prado (Unity)

Running for Director of Student Assistance:

Lopez_Jose_NEWS_AS Debate-20

Jazzmin Sardin (Fresh Start)

Running for Director of Activities:

Jeannie Joo, candidate for AS Director of Activities at Santa Monica College, poses for a photo on Wednesday in Santa Monica.

Hae "Jeannie" Joo (Independent)

Running for Director of Student Outreach:

Lopez_Jose_NEWS_AS Debate-18

Rashisul Haque (New Wave)

Running for Director of Community Relations:

Lopez_Jose_NEWS_AS Debate-21

Stephany Triska (Unity)

Daria Kudryavtseva, candidate for AS Director of Community Relations at Santa Monica College, speaks to students during the debate held at the SMC clock tower on Thursday in Santa Monica.

Daria Kudryavtseva (Independent)

Lopez_Jose_NEWS_AS Debate-26

Brittany Riley (New Wave)

Running for Director of Instruction Support:

Madeleine Turner, candidate for AS Director of Instructional Support at Santa Monica College, poses for a photo on Wednesday in Santa Monica.

Madeleine Turner (New Wave)

Stephanie Mendez, candidate for AS Director of Instructional Support at Santa Monica College, speaks to students during the debate on Thursday at SMC in Santa Monica.

Stephanie Mendez (Unity)

Running for Director of Student Advocacy:

Walther Perez, candidate for AS Director of Student Advocacy at Santa Monica College, poses for a photo on Wednesday in Santa Monica.

Walther Perez (Fresh Start)

Micca Cao, candidate for AS Director of Student Advocacy at Santa Monica College, addresses the students at the debate held at the SMC clock tower quad area on Thursday.

Dan "Micca" Cao (Independent)

Paris Taylor, candidate for AS Director of Student Advocacy at Santa Monica College, addresses students on Thursday during the debate at SMC in Santa Monica.

Paris Taylor (Unity)

Running for Director of Sustainability:

Sharon Nat, candidate for AS Director of Sustainability, addresses the students at the debate held at the SMC clock tower quad area on Thursday.

Sharon Nat (Fresh Start)

Anthony Hengsathorn, candidate for AS Director of Sustainability at Santa Monica College, addresses the students at the debate held at the SMC clock tower quad area on Thursday.

Anthony Hengsathorn (Unity)

Abderezak Azib, Associated Students Director of Sustainability Candidate, poses for a photograph at Santa Monica College on Tuesday.

Abderezak Azib (New Wave)

Running for Director of Budget Management:

Dario Gentiletti, candidate for AS Director of Budget Management at Santa Monica College, addresses the students at the debate held at the SMC clock tower quad area on Thursday.

Dario Gentiletti (Independent)

Auguste Gezalyan, candidate for AS Director of Budget Management at Santa Monica College, poses for a portrait in Santa Monica.

Auguste Gezalyan (Unity)

Orlando Gonzalez Gudino-Guizar, running for the Director of Budget Management seat during the 2016 AS elections, poses for a photo at the Corsair newsroom on Monday, April 4.

Orlando Gonzalez (Fresh Start)

Vladyslav Verchenko, candidate for Director of Budget Management of the Associated Students at Santa Monica College, poses for a photo on Wednesday in Santa Monica.

Vladyslav Verchenko (New Wave)

Running for Student Trustee:

Alfredo Gama, candidate for AS Student Trustee at Santa Monica College, poses for a photo on Wednesday in Santa Monica.

Alfredo Gama (Unity)

Laura Zwicker, 31, is running for the role of Student Trustee in the 2016 election for the Associated Students of SMC.

Laura Zwicker (Fresh Start)

Running for Associated Students Vice President:

Yinghan Edward Tang, candidate for AS Vice President at Santa Monica College, poses for a photo on Wednesday in Santa Monica.

Yighan "Edward" Tang (New Wave)

Adrian Restrepo, candidate for AS Vice President, poses for a portrait at Santa Monica College.

Adrian M. Restrepo (Independent)

Running for Associated Students President:

Daira Bustos, Associated Students Presidential Candidate, poses for a photograph at Santa Monica College on Tuesday.

Daira Bustos (Unity)

Steve Maldonado, Associated Students Presidential Candidate, poses for a photograph at Santa Monica College on Tuesday.

Steve Maldonado (New Wave)

Terrance Ware Jr., Associated Students Presidential Candidate, poses for a photograph at Santa Monica College on Tuesday.

Terrance Ware (Fresh Start)

Associated Students, News, Top Stories, LocalAdam R Thomas2016 AS Elections, AS, AS Elections, Associated Student BoardComment