Exec. Candidates Elected to U.C.

In an election with a record low number of students running for office, 87 of 99 candidates were elected to the Undergraduate Council, including the two presidential candidates: David L. Hanselman '94-'95 and Joshua D. Liston '95.

About 20 incumbents were reelected. Four incumbents--Kevin C. Scott '97, Jocelyn L. Bush '97, Ellen E. Malone '95 and John J. Appelbaum '97--were not re-elected.

Members of the election commission said they were not sure how many students voted.

The campaign for executive positions will get into full swing this week, with a Crimson-sponsored debate on Wednesday at the Institute of Politics between the presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Both co-founders of the Movement to Reform Undergraduate Council (MRUC), Rudd W. Coffey '97 and Dave V. Bonfili '96, were elected. The two are working on a reform proposal they plan to bring before council on October 22.

The proposal includes three main reforms: clearing up difficulties with parliamentary procedure, allowing students to withhold all their money to the council on their term bill and holding council elections each semester.

There are about 30 members of the MRUC, Bonfili said, including both Liston and Hanselman.

"It's going to be a good year," said Coffey. "Give its a little time and [the council] will do all right."

Brandon C. Gregoire '95 and Randy A. Fine '96, both former council secretaries, were elected to the council again this year.

Gregoire has officially announced his candidacy for vice president this year. Fine confirmed yesterday that he is also a candidate for the position.

Pathik Patel '97, a write-in candidate in Eliot House, unseated incumbent Malone in what otherwise would have been an uncontested race.

Patel also finished ahead of two former executive committee members in Eliot House--Liston, a former vice president, and Jay I. Kim '95, former chair of the finance committee.

"So few people were running that a write-in candidate won might say something about the whole thing." Patel said last night.

Coffey said the low number of candidates running for office may be due to frustrations on the part of incumbents.

"I've talked personally to people last year who didn't run this year. They were frustrated with problems they had last year," Coffey said.

But Liston dismissed any speculation about voter discontent with incumbents.

"Only five people ran in Eliot--as a result, none of the candidates campaigned that hard, and voter turnout was very low," he said. "Just based on that, I don't think you can make a solid observation (about voter discontent)."

Todd F. Braunstein contributed to this report.

Pathik Patel '97, a write-in candidate in Eliot House, unseated incumbent Malone in what otherwise would have been an uncontested race.

Patel also finished ahead of two former executive committee members in Eliot House--Liston, a former vice president, and Jay I. Kim '95, former chair of the finance committee.

"So few people were running that a write-in candidate won might say something about the whole thing." Patel said last night.

Coffey said the low number of candidates running for office may be due to frustrations on the part of incumbents.

"I've talked personally to people last year who didn't run this year. They were frustrated with problems they had last year," Coffey said.

But Liston dismissed any speculation about voter discontent with incumbents.

"Only five people ran in Eliot--as a result, none of the candidates campaigned that hard, and voter turnout was very low," he said. "Just based on that, I don't think you can make a solid observation (about voter discontent)."

Todd F. Braunstein contributed to this report.