Every year in March, San Benito High School holds an ASB convention for the seven executive positions; president, vice president, student congress president, commissioner of athletics, commissioner of clubs, Rally Club president, and social acts. This year there were a total of 14 candidates running for executive spots. The event is put on in the auditorium by ASB.
This year’s convention marked the 30th anniversary of the event. Originally, it was an idea of the previous ASB advisor, Juan Robledo, but is now carried on by the second-year ASB advisor, Catalina Lemos.
“It’s a place where the delegates that represent each class get to hear the speeches of the different candidates,” Lemos said. The delegates are members of each class who get to go and represent their first blocks. “They get to vote and help narrow down to only two people of more than two are running for an executive spot,” Lemos said, adding that the convention helps the candidates figure out how well they know the position for which they are running and what they plan to do if they get the position.
The candidates are allowed to get the word out to school that they are running for an executive spot in many ways. Almost all candidates paint signs for their campaign to put around campus. Some candidates pass out candy or even buttons that help encourage students to vote for them. There are some exceptions on campaigning. The candidates cannot hang signs on a painted surface such as a building or a painted fence. They also only get to spend $200 on their campaigning and what they pass out around the school.
Ashlyn Archibeque, who ran for commissioner of clubs, said that ASB “Is a place where you can voice your opinion and share your ideas.” She also said that ASB is a great place to get involved at San Benito High School.
A panel of judges decides if questions asked by the delegates for the people running are “valid or invalid,” said Lemos, and “They get chosen by myself and (current ASB president) Kali Smiley by watching over the years and seeing who the hardest workers are and who goes further than their position and helps out with other activities or projects.” This year, the five-person panel was comprised of seniors DJ Casas, Marisa Johnson, Kayla Klauer, Amy Quinones, and Cheyenne Wiles.
Younger candidates, such as freshman Dominic Garcia, who also ran for commissioner of clubs, says the convention helps people “Build their self-confidence when speaking” and “gets their name out if they want to run the year after.”
The convention is a great way for students who are running for an executive position to promote themselves in hopes of being one of the top two finalists for a position. It is also a chance for students to see first-hand what it is like to be such a big part of the voting process to decide who will be the student leaders at San Benito High School.
The following students were elected to the ASB Executive Council for the 2015-16 school year:
ASB President – Nonnie Coelho
ASB Vice President – Lauren Klauer
Rally Club President – Ryan Medrano
Student Congress President – Hayleigh Smith
Commissioner of Clubs – Krystal Macias
Commissioner of Athletics – Derek Moeller
Commissioner of Social Activities – Monica Laguna