Low turnout for SA election

By Nick Swedberg

This year’s Student Association Senate election results are in with 845 votes tabulated, almost meeting last year’s total of 850. About 3.4 percent of NIU’s student population voted.

Four seats in SA District 5 – student representation for those in DeKalb east of the Kishwaukee River and outside the city limits – were not filled because not enough qualified candidates were in that particular race.

Filling of the vacant seats will begin as soon as the senate begins session Sunday.

Students interested in the vacant seats – which are not limited to commuter students – need to attend at least one senate meeting and contact the SA.

Kevin Rumbaugh, SA board of election commissioner, said three ballots were ruled invalid.

The ballots amounted to less than a 1-percent margin of error, which is well below the 5-percent margin of error that would invalidate the election.

Jeremy Adolphson, board of elections committee chair, described this year’s election as “smoothly run.” A couple of candidates were campaigning within 100 feet of the DuSable voting area Tuesday and were “chased out” by the election officials.

People who see potential violators of SA election rules are advised to contact officials instead of taking matters into their own hands, Rumbaugh said.

SA election winners

District 1

Mike Celis 169

Tammy Usher 155

Keynice Dixon 127

Dion Smith 125

Neecy Roney 95

Elizabeth Lynette Jackson 92

Vanessa Flores 84

Anabel Garcia 72

District 2

J.R. Perez 130

Albert “Alby” Nelson 125

Arturo Rodriguez 115

Rahman Lakhani 105

Holly Creamer 100

Missy Lugo 54

Kristina Kelly 49

Mark Clay 45

District 3

Taheerah Abdul-Rahmoon 200

Ella Gambles 113

Christopher Allen Davis 109

Andrew Nelms 101

Andrew J. Becerra 86

Pam Lake 82

Joe Rajski 50

Mike Aniballi 45

District 4

Raquel “Rocky” Taylor 170

Lonnie “Yogi” Pollard 150

Latoya White 125

Jenny Mendez 111

Judy Villanueva 88

Aurora Salgado 82

Divya P. Vohra 78

Ryan Ortiz 66

District 5

Anthony Currie 188

Nadia Ascencio 120

Salvador Martinez Jr. 115

Mitchell Channell 83