Fewer candidates, parties file for MSA fall elections

This fall's list of would-be members of the Michigan Student Assembly is shorter than usual.

Fewer parties and candidates filed by Friday's 5 p.m. deadline than in recent MSA election seasons. Three parties - the Michigan Party, the Students' Party and the Pissed Off at Korrupt Executives Party (POKE) - and a host of independent candidates filed for a total of 39 representative candidates. Last fall, eight parties and 101 candidates filed for the election.

Representatives from the Michigan Party and Students' Party are the majority of students running. Students running as independents or with newer parties may have a more difficult time getting elected, Nagrant said.

Nagrant said that after the Students' Party win last spring, other potential candidates may have realized that running with smaller parties is more difficult than being associated with the more established parties.

"I think last year's Students' Party big victory pretty much polarized into two main parties," said Nagrant, an LSA senior. "I think people are more reluctant to run for separate parties."

Nagrant said running with a party gives an extra edge to first-year students who never have run before.

"I think there is a lot of value running with parties," Nagrant said. "(Students) can learn techniques of campaigning."

Dan Serota, who chairs the Michigan Party, said running with a party is an advantage for those who want to gain experience and wisdom from their peers.

Serota added that several people running under a joint platform rather than numerous individual platforms is less confusing for voters.

"I would like to think the Michigan Party has built a reputation that students tend to support," said Serota, an LSA senior.

LSA Rep. Barry Rosenberg, who is running for re-election as an independent, said he thinks it's harder to run as an independent.

"One good thing about the parties is to help educate candidates about the process," said Rosenberg, an LSA senior. "If you are a hard-working candidate, it is possible to be elected as an independent."

Rosenberg said serving on the assembly as an independent has allowed him to have less restrictions when dealing with the issues.

"Being an independent allows me to focus on issues without feeling bound to party lines," Rosenberg said.

Martin Cagin, who is running with the POKE party, said he decided to run because he is impressed with the POKE Party's platform. Cagin said he may risk not getting elected by not running with one of the more established parties.

"I like some of the ideals they have," said Cagin, an LSA sophomore.

LSA first-year student Sarah Chopp said she decided to run with the Students' Party because she was impressed with the strength of its platform.

Chopp added that running with the Students' Party will help her publicize her candidacy during the campaign. Chopp was appointed to a vacant seat on the assembly last month and is running to keep the seat.

"The people I met in student government became my mentors," said Chopp. "I definitely wanted to run with a party, especially as a freshman. We are working together for political issues."

11-04-97