Usually, gubernatorial races are hotly contested, publicized, and much talked about. Anyone who thought the MacArthur Campus governor’s race would be any different was most definitely mistaken.
For weeks now, candidates have plastered party posters throughout the campus and have handed out personalized pens while candidate shirts have been adorned by the faithful. Campaigning continues relentlessly throughout the day as candidates talk to their fellow students in hopes of formulating or swaying their opinions.
The four candidates, Paul Lowe, Mike Mallen, Jarred Reiling and Jared Velez were given the opportunity to say exactly why they should be the next governor for the Jupiter Campus in the Burrow. On Monday, April 11 at 4 p.m. each candidate gave a two-minute opening statement. Then the two moderators, Joe Isadore, the Assistant Dean of Students on the Northern Campuses, and John Chapman, a junior at the Honors College, took turns asking questions to all the candidates who were allowed one minute to respond. A two-minute closing statement and questions from the 60-person audience concluded the debate. Throughout the debate, each candidate was fairly consistent and presented certain goals he wished to accomplish if he were to be elected governor. Being a commuter student himself, Paul Lowe hopes to bring more commuter involvement in events on campus. He also wants to allow access to a color printer, to provide faster computers for the Burrow, and to increase the number of classes offered on campus. Mike Mallen seeks to bond the MacArthur Campus to all the different campuses of FAU by providing OWL radio, intramural sports leagues between the campuses and a shuttle system to transport students to the other branches for events. Jarred Reiling hopes to provide a copier for students to use free of charge and to conserve money by not spending funds on unnecessary expenses. Jared Velez advocates book vouchers and expanding the possibilities of the Burrow.
Generally, all the candidates made it clear that the money was there to benefit all students.
For example, Jarred Reiling did not think that money should be wasted on items like Student Government t-shirts during events on campus. Paul Lowe was adamant to point out that the new furniture was purchased at an unnecessary cost. It is also important to all the candidates that camaraderie is maintained within student government. Mike Mallen especially expressed this point because he felt that one of the major problems of past executive boards was a disconnection between members and was passionate about fixing it. Jared Velez stated that his unique leadrship abilities would come from a familiarity with the different aspects of student government including, the agencies within the executive board Senate, and the UWC.
In the end, the students seemed to agree with something from each candidate’s platform. It seems that it is going to be a close race and whoever becomes governor will have something different to offer. Whether it is Mike Mallen’s intercampus relations, Paul Lowe’s curriculum expansion, Jared Velez’s unique leadership, or Jarred Reiling’s reorganizing plan.
