Latimer, Aida, Ronk announce Exec bid

from The Commonwealth Times

Dear VCU Student Body,
On behalf of my running mates Gonzalo Aida and Joshua Ronk, I am writing to declare my candidacy in the March elections for VCU Monroe Park Campus student body president.

Elected officials should be accountable to the people, and accordingly, we will be the humble servants you deserve, protecting you from excessive government.

Spending is out of control. As your student body president, I will cut costs by hiring only staff members absolutely essential to executive operations. We can set a good example to the university by being frugal with our own money.

Secondly, Richmond has been good to us and I think it is time that we be good to Richmond-a city in which 18.5 percent of its inhabitants live below the poverty line. I am very sympathetic to the needs of the working poor-many of whom serve us daily. Being student body president is an hourly, paid position, and as president, I will donate all of my earnings over minimum wage to the Richmond Food Bank to show my solidarity with VCU employees who are not capable of earning a living wage. Gonzalo and Joshua join me in this promise. Our sacrifice can be a symbol.

I am a second-term student body senator and am the former chairman of the Senate's Legislative Affairs Committee.

Gonzalo Aida is a third-year political science student and a person who prides himself on being up to date on all current events. As your student body vice president, we can expect him to be the fair moderator of the Student Senate.

As a floor rep. to the hall council in Brandt Hall, Joshua Ronk is used to bringing people together. As our SGA executive director, we can expect nothing less. Joshua knows that we can do great things when we put our heads together.

I wish you a positive, productive semester! And I look forward to seeing you along the trail ahead.

Respectfully yours,
Steven C. Latimer SGA Senator Monroe Park Campus

Editor's Note - According to the 2006 census, 20.8 percent live below the poverty line, which only further proves Mr. Latimer's point.

See this article on the CT's website
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2008/01/14/Opinion/Letters.To.The.Editor.11408-3151290.shtml