President

There were many attractive candidates for Student Association president this year. After careful consideration, The Spectrum endorses Timothy Kelly of the Ascension Party.

Elevation Party candidate and current SA Treasurer Anthony Burgio clearly has the most experience relevant to serving as president, and his responses to questions during endorsement interviews with The Spectrum clearly demonstrated his grasp of the issues facing the incoming SA president. This knowledge comes from serving on the executive board this year - something both a strength and a weakness in the eyes of The Spectrum.

Several of this past year's financial errors, from unnecessary conference trips to overspending on Fall Fest, had Burgio's signature on them. While he acknowledged some of these errors during the endorsement process, it seems to be too little too late. Based on his past record, The Spectrum cannot comfortably endorse Burgio.

Kelly is somewhat of an outsider to the SA executive board but brings in student government experience from his role as assistant to the speaker of the SA Assembly. Kelly feels SA was run irresponsibly this year, as many candidates do, but unlike some other candidates Kelly offered clear plans for improving SA's financial management.

Kelly favors stricter budget controls with less line transfers, which would prevent the kind of liquid budget that allows for money to be allocated to sometimes frivolous expenses.

In general, Kelly believes in better communication between the executive branch and legislative and club entities, something many feel was lacking this year. He makes an attractive candidate for president, being someone outside the current SA dynasty - for the past several years the SA president has been affiliated with the previous president. But unlike many outsider candidates, Kelly brings in directly relevant experience and clear ideas on his potential role as SA president.

Kelly still has some definite room for improvement - he was unaware of some basic facts, including the racial makeup of the body he will be representing, along with the size of the SUNY Board of Trustees, a body he would serve on if elected president. But with some hard work and dedication, The Spectrum believes Kelly could make an effective SA president.