Kastner To Head Harvard Democrats

A week after a Harvard College Democrats election scandal, Sonia H. Kastner ’03 was elected president of the club.

The controversy began when John F. Bash ’03, roommate of Kastner’s opponent Geoffry F. Reed ’03, sent out two e-mails last week to the e-mail list UC General endorsing Reed for president of the Harvard College Democrats, and asking non-Democrats to join the club in order to vote for Reed in the election.

Reed responded immediately to the list by denying any association with Bash’s e-mails.

“While I appreciate John Bash’s efforts on my behalf, I did not authorize the e-mail that he sent out.,” he wrote. “Furthermore, I do not support, in any form, non-Democrats joining the organization for the purpose of taking part in the election.”

On Wednesday night, a week after the e-mails, members of the club gathered in Harvard Hall to vote by secret ballot. Kastner, who could potentially have suffered a loss by an influx of non-Democrat Reed supporters heeding Bash’s e-mail, won the election.

Reed was elected legislative director, the position he had held during the past year. Kastner served as vice-president of the club last year.

Reed said he feels the coming year will be a positive one.

“I think I would have served the board well [as president], but I know Sonia will be a solid president. I look forward to serving as legislative director again,” he said.

Kastner said she is particularly pleased with the composition of the group’s executive board.

“The new executive board is a diverse group of wonderful, dedicated students, and I am so excited to be working with them,” she wrote in an e-mail. “Based on the speeches of the board members, I think this year will bring more regular and frequent Democrats events, increased publicity and outreach efforts, and a stronger campus presence overall.”

Other new officers of the Harvard College Democrats Board include: Vice-President Kara A. Shamy ’03, Treasurer Alicia Menendez ’05, Communications Director Jessica L. Diaz ’05, Projects Director Danielle C. Robles ’04, Speakers and Events Director Linda Vaghar, a third year extension school student, Campaigns Director Michael Firestone ’05, Campus Outreach Director R. Gerard McGeary ’04, Internships Director Peter P. Buttigieg ’04, and Web/Design Director Nancy K. Dutton ’05.