The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / News / Candidates preparing for officer elections

Candidates preparing for officer elections

April 10, 2013 by Josh Garcia

Voting for Students’ Association executive positions will begin Wednesday.

Candidates for president are Dylan Benac, junior political science major from Boerne; Bo Braddock, junior biology major from Deer Park; and Aaron Johnson, senior art and psychology major from Va.

Candidates for vice president are Rafael Rosales, sophomore management major from La Libertad, El Salvador; Rodney Johnson, sophomore management major from Odessa; and Anna Fullerton, junior psychology major from Garland.

Candidates for treasurer are Karston Goodman, senior finance major from Abilene; JP Ralston, junior finance major from Plano; and Tyler Eidson, sophomore management major from College Station.

The positions of president, vice president and treasurer and currently occupied by Rebecca Dial, Benac and Joseph Austin, respectively. Dial and Austin will graduate in May.

Austin, accounting and pre-law major from Houston, said the election season has been great.

“It’s a little tricky organizing the debate forum and Chapel speeches just because there are nine candidates,” he said. “Having increased candidates means there’s more candidates out there talking to the student body, so we do expect to see an increased voter turnout.”

Austin said the competition for each position expands the horizons for candidates and the student body.

“I think people are seeing the work that’s been done in SA in the past and are wanting to be part of that,” Austin said. “I think it’s more beneficial having more candidates running for a race.”

Austin, along with Nick Tatum, has served as co-chair for this year’s election. Austin was not a member of SA before becoming executive treasurer last semester. He said he went all out for his one year in office.

“I really have enjoyed my time in SA. I’ve enjoyed serving the students,” Austin said. “When you invest yourself like this position calls for, you don’t want to walk away from it.”

Dial, political science and finance major from Lexington, SC, has been a member of SA for the past four years. She said she finds it tough to leave SA behind.

“I’m excited to see what we can do in the future, but it is hard to let go since there are so many projects that I’m working on or that will be implemented next year that I won’t even get to see,” Dial said. “But at the same time, that really sets up the next officers well.”

Dial said she believes her job is about helping students.

“Our motivation isn’t for the resume or for the salary,” Dial said. “We care about the students so deeply and that’s what really allows you to be able to do this job to your fullest potential.”

Campaigning began earlier this month, after candidates gathered petitions in late March. Candidates also delivered speeches Tuesday evening during a Chapel forum, as well as Wednesday during Chapel. Voting will take place in the Campus Center Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 to 5 pm. A run-off election, if necessary, will occur Friday.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Elections, SA

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

About Josh Garcia

Joshua Garcia is a sophomore convergence journalism major from Lexington, North Carolina and managing editor of the Optimist.

You are here: Home / News / Candidates preparing for officer elections

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
26 Jun

The United Athletic Conference is officially taking the place of the Western Athletic Conference in the 2026-2027 athletic year. The UAC is a joint football effort between the WAC and the ASUN but will now extend to all sports. #acuoptimist #acuathletics #wac #uac

Reply on Twitter 1938240320854008109 Retweet on Twitter 1938240320854008109 2 Like on Twitter 1938240320854008109 7 Twitter 1938240320854008109
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved