Woo-Hoo, I know the Executive Slates for this year!

Remember, you heard it here first. Not in the Daily Cal, not in the Patriot, right here.

President: Jesse Gabriel

Analysis: Classic Student Action choice. Their most popular Senator, good ties to the Greek community and Mock Trial, among others. Outspoken and oft-quoted in the Daily Cal.

Interesting Because: Earlier in the year, he fought bitterly against party leaders on several issues, leading most outsiders to conclude he'd be passed over for President. We thought Cutter W or some other old-timer would pick up the mantle. But Jesse appears to have fallen into line on most issues. Just yesterday, no doubt at the request of party leaders, he was lying about whether or not he was nominated.

Beatability: Relatively High. If the nominee was Fryday or Cutter W, outsiders would be screwed. But Jesse doesn't have a large following of his own, and will have to rely on Student Action's machine to win. Doubtful he can bring 600 people to vote for him. Certainly a tough competitor, but not depressingly so.

Executive Vice-President: Han Hong

Analysis: Student Action always nominates an Asian girl for something, and apparently it's Han's turn. The Triple A candidate. Not especially distinguished in Senate, but not vulnerable like the well-hated Jen Lee. Plus she's pretty sexy, so I'm told. (Not my type.)

Interesting Because: Not really interesting. We knew there'd be an Asian female from AAA; the only blank was the name.

Beatability: Relatively Low. Doesn't have the organization, but AAA candidates have a way of winning. Can depend on a relatively large following. Will only need to put out a moderate performance to beat our candidate.

External Affairs Vice-President: Jimmy ?

Analysis: The most shocking candidate, hands down. I'm not sure on Jimmy's last name, but he's the President of one of Berkeley's large African-American Fraternities. I'd love to see how he got nominated, since it must've been a hell of a political calculation. First of: Why a Black guy? Is SA making a play for the Black students on campus? They knew the attempt would piss hell out of cal-SERVE, and they've already accomplished that. Cal-SERVE is very pissed. Second, why External? SA can draw on numerous campus activists with respectable ties to the University and state-wide political institutions. To go all out with the outsider is very interesting.

Interesting Because: This creates big turmoil inside Cal-SERVE. Cal-SERVE has represented the minority interests at this campus for around 18 years, and the cornerstone of that has been support from Blacks and Latinos. To have a respected African-American campus leader go with SA has any amount of implications. It could be an isolated case, or it could mean that Cal-SERVE has lost support from their traditional base. If that's true, Jimmy could destroy Cal-SERVE.

Beatability: Medium to Low. Even if Cal-SERVE is dying, they'll be fighting Jimmy for every inch of his natural turf: minority students. He'll have to coattail off the other Executives if he hopes to win. It's possible he has a tie to an organization that I don't know about... this guy comes out of left field.

Academic Affairs Vice-President: Tony Falcone

Analysis: Tony clearly manuvered himself into this position. Doesn't have lots of ties to campus organizations, not especially well-liked, but very well-connected and absolutely wanted to be AAVP. A strange mix of a candidate: he's one of the biggest policy wonks ever seen, who works harder in the Senate than just about everybody. But he's also a very committed SA person who doesn't mind Wally and Justin's sluggishness this year.

Interesting Because: Why Academic? His ties are to External VP type stuff: University and State contacts. He doesn't know anything about Academic Senate, UCSA, or even who the Student Regent is. His project list for AAVP will turn the office around 180 degrees from the direction it currently pursues. Could be the right way to go, but even competent Executives find reorganizing an established office hard.

Beatability: Medium to High. Too much of an ASUC insider, and can be slimed due to active advocacy of shady SA tactics. The typical SA person does Shady stuff but keeps it quiet; Tony tries to make a virtue of them. Also, Cal-SERVE has a comfortable relationship in the AAVP office and doesn't want to give it up.


So that's SA's candidates! I'll give the rundown of APPLEs in a week or two.
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