ASUC Elections 2003
Shunned by the major parties on campus, it's time for conservatives to take action

By Robb McFadden
7:00 PM, 2/13/2003

Draft Paul La Fata!

With news coming from Student Action this week that Berkeley College Republican Senator Paul La Fata will not be on their slate of executive candidates, campus conservatives have effectively been shut out.

The message was clear: they want our votes, but not our voice. The decision was disappointing and insulting – but predictable. As political organizations whose sole objective is reelection, campus parties like Student Action understandably behave to maximize their own political benefits. But after an excruciatingly close ASUC presidential election last year--when Student Action candidate Jesse Gabriel beat the independent Kris Cuaresma-Primm by a mere 80 votes—this is hardly the ideal time for Student Action to risk alienating conservatives on campus.

If conservatives aren’t included on an executive slate during such a competitive year, then it is unlikely that they will ever get the recognition they deserve. Therefore, it’s time for conservatives to stop going along to get along. It’s time to take matters into our own hands. It’s time to draft BCR Senator Paul La Fata for Executive Vice President.

Senator Paul La Fata has been a force to be reckoned with in the ASUC Senate this year. For conservatives he’s been a champion, and for the Left he’s been a nightmare. But as far as all students are concerned, regardless of their ideological persuasion, La Fata has been a model senator.

Senator La Fata researches every bill that comes before the ASUC Senate so that he can make thoughtful and well- informed decisions about his vote. On more than one occasion, La Fata has taken his colleagues to the mat over bills that defy common sense. He’s voted against symbolic political bills that do nothing to help students, and he’s been known to rail against bills that were out of order or unconstitutional. And most importantly, when other senators speak, Paul La Fata listens – a very important quality in an elected leader.

Paul La Fata would make an excellent Executive Vice President. Excellent for conservatives because we would finally have the symbolic representation in the executive offices, but more importantly, he would be the best Executive Vice President the ASUC has had in years – in command of parliamentary procedure, responsive to student concerns, respectful of opposing viewpoints, and capable of running an effective and efficient senate meeting.

A year after the California Patriot endorsed Jesse Gabriel and, arguably, helped sweep him into office, conservatives appear to be shut out of the ASUC executive slate. This isn’t unexpected, especially since the only two Republicans in the ASUC Senate are independents and don’t belong to a major party. But conservatives should not expect the major parties to include us, stand for us, or look out for our electoral welfare. One needs only to read a handful of the symbolic legislation that was passed by this year’s Senate to realize that the only conservatives in
the ASUC are the ones we elect ourselves. A La Fata candidacy would send the message that conservatives cannot be taken for granted.

In reality, conservatives cannot expect to elect a candidate on their own, and a La Fata candidacy would have to attract voters of all stripes and backgrounds. It’s an uphill battle, but if anyone can do it, La Fata can. The Executive Vice President is, perhaps, the least political executive office in the ASUC because unlike the offices of External Vice President, Academic Vice, or even President, the Executive Vice President’s main objectives are
apolitical: to preside over Senate meetings, enforce orderly conduct, and allocate office space for student groups in
Eshleman Hall.

La Fata would be a qualified and formidable candidate – if he decides to run. After being passed over by Student Action, there is no indication that La Fata is considering a third party or independent run, but if he is truly wants to remain involved in the ASUC, he should strongly consider running for Executive Vice President. As conservatives and students alike, it’s our responsibility to encourage Paul La Fata to run and communicate that we would strongly support his candidacy.

It’s high time that conservatives flexed their muscle in the ASUC executive races, and if the past is any indicator, that won’t come by endorsing the lesser of two evils. It’s time to draft Paul La Fata for Executive Vice President.