Incumbent Trounces Opponent in SISH Club Council Elections

Incumbent candidate Lorenzo Guzman easily won re-election as Special Interest Service and Hobbies Club Coordinator Wednesday, defeating Nekema Hunte, the programs and activities coordinator for UB's chapter of the National Association for Advancement of Colored People.

Guzman, a junior accounting major, won a second term as coordinator by a 22-8 margin. He is the third straight SISH Council Coordinator to be elected to two terms.

"I've tried to make this council more than it was," Guzman said during his two-minute campaign speech before the vote. "SA has never looked on this council as important."

"We were the red-headed stepchild of the councils, but I feel I've made it more recognizable," Guzman added.

The SISH club council, the largest of the university's six club councils, represents 70 religious, political, musical and recreational SA clubs. Each SISH club was allowed to send two voting delegates to the election.

Guzman's campaign platform involved increasing exposure of SISH clubs. Prior to the vote, Guzman addressed the voting audience and took credit for expanding the SISH Expo, an annual event in the Student Union designed to promote SISH club activities.

Becky Marinoff, president of the Jewish Student Union, was one of the 22 club delegates who voted for Guzman.

"He's done an exceptional job," said Marinoff. "He has great ideas and enthusiasm and always makes himself available. He has more experience, which means there will be less of a learning curve for him."

Some delegates said they voted for Guzman because they were pleased with how he ran the council during his first term.

"All the stuff he has done has raised SISH from the dumps to the upper ranks of SA," said Tim Muenzner, vice president of the Smash Club. "He should be given the chance to keep going."

Hunte, a junior biotechnology and African-American studies major, said she was not surprised Guzman defeated her.

"I figured Lorenzo would win," she said after the election. "He did more for SISH, he planned out more and had more experience."

Drew Marong, president of the Smash Club, echoed Hunte's assessment.

"They were both good, but Nekema had no advantage over Lorenzo," Marong said. "He's helped us so much, I'd never even seen her before."

While Hunte may not have been surprised at the results, the election did not turn out exactly the way Guzman expected.

"I honestly thought it would be a lot closer," said Guzman, who said he expected the margin of victory to be no more than seven votes.

"It shows they have faith in me," Guzman said.

The SISH coordinator works closely with the SA executive board, and Guzman said it is something he looks forward to doing.

"I support the new e-board and expect a good working relationship," he said.

There are only 35 permanently recognized clubs in SISH and only those clubs can send delegates to vote. Of the 35 clubs that could have voted, 16 clubs sent delegates to the election.