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Presidential Candidate Withdraws

Mar 11 2009 18:28

Kirsty Patterson

One of the two competing Sabbatical Candidates for ICU President has withdrawn. Afonso Campos has cited family reasons for dropping out of the Presidential Race.

Afonso Campos, no longer a contendor in the Sabbatical Elections.

Candidate in the ICU Sabbatical Elections, Afonso Campos, has withdrawn from the election race. Afonso, better known as 'Fonzie' has today announced that he will be withdrawing from the Presidential Election for family reasons.

Afonso was a contender for the position of ICU President next year, running a campaign based on the slogan 'Little Guy, Big Ideas'. His withdrawal will be a blow to his supporters and also to his opposition. The high quality of candidates put forward this year and the healthy level of competition was promising to draw a respectable turnout with an uncontested position less likely to.

Returning Officer, Christian Carter, confirmed to Live! that Campos had officially withdrawn at 15:15 this afternoon.

Afonso has said that he is 'deeply saddened' that he is no longer able to run for President 'regardless of how much I would like to do it'. He thanked his supporters saying:

"Thank you thank you thank you so much for everything you have done over the past few weeks. You have literally been incredible.

Hopefully these issues will be sorted out and I will run again next year and truly hope I can have your support."

Opposing Candidate, Ashley Brown, who is running a campaign based on "change shouldn't be difficult" has told Live!: "I'd like to thank Fonzie for running a sensible and well-mannered campaign, with us vying for votes based on our policies and experience rather than bickering. I wish him and his family all the best."

RON also added: "One down, one to go! I would have beaten him anyway."

Depite there only being one candidate (and RON) for President, all of the other Sabbatical Positions are still contested and you can make your choice between Friday 13th at 00:01 and Tuesday 17th at 23:59 by visiting imperialcollegeunion.org/vote. Check out the manifestos here.

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Discussion about “Presidential Candidate Withdraws”

The comments below are unmoderated submissions by Live! readers. The Editor accepts no liability for their content, nor for any offence caused by them. Any complaints should be directed to the Editor.

1. me

Mar 11 2009 17:14

This doesn't bother me - i think Ashley will be a great president and will hit the ground running.

(though, obviously, such a shame about afonso's family problems)

2. Voter

Mar 11 2009 23:19

Very very sad. Let us hope that he is able to carry on with his studies unhindered.

And I look forward to running against him next year.

3. First post in years!

Mar 12 2009 00:35

Love you fonzie xxx

4. J

Mar 12 2009 01:35

I will feel safe under Ashley but I have been impressed by Fonzie's campaign and it's a great shame that he feels he can't stand any more. I wish him sanity and hope that this doesn't affect the election turnout too much.

5. Hack

Mar 12 2009 12:16

This is the first unopposed presidential election in a long time - at least since 2002.

No offence to Ashley (who I'm sure will be great) but this is bad for democracy and bad for the union - it seriously undermines our credibility with College.

6. Indeed

Mar 12 2009 13:36

I agree, if Afonso hadn't been in it from the start we probably would have had a few more candidates currently running as well, its a shame.

Hope to see you running in the future Fonzie!

7. Ashley Brown

Mar 12 2009 15:13

@Hack - no offence taken, I agree with you. It was good to have two different views on what to do next year and two sets of people campaigning. Still got RON to beat of course.

I think the problem of credibility with College won't be as bad as it could have been, as we've got good competition for the DPE and DPW elections - part of the reason for splitting the DPEW was that they spent so much time in College meetings - for many in College, it's the DPEW (and will be the DPE or DPW) they see. Credibility at Aldwych Group meetings and such like might be more of a problem...

8. Ashley Brown

Mar 12 2009 16:18

Just to clarify the above post, as a couple of people have asked me what I mean.

The Aldwych Group are the student unions of the Russell Group, the leading research-intensive universities. My point was that in College we'd be fine, but maybe there would be a credibility problem when going to external organisations. Probably nothing to get too excited about though, as they probably won't be trawling Live! or the ICU website to find the details of our elections!

9. Eugene

Mar 12 2009 18:15

Ash I think it speaks volumes that you know about the far reaching implications - most students have no idea of the existence of the Aldwych Group!

I think with the larger Sabbs, quality is more important than quantity. We certainly have some very high quality candiates this year, of which Ashley is certainly one.

10. All Seeing Eye

Mar 13 2009 01:48

The Aldwych and 94 Group eyes are on you, Ashley!

11. Kirsty Patterson

Mar 13 2009 03:22

Haha. I knew that comment would only get you into trouble. You of all people should know that Live! is a favourite haunt of many an NUS hack...

12. Ashley Brown

Mar 13 2009 09:14

Yes, my mistake, plenty of hacks watching...

13. err

Mar 17 2009 10:43

Are we members of the 94 Group?

14. ex-felix

Mar 17 2009 10:54

Sad news about Afonso, but congratulations are in order for Ashley. He is incredibly hacky (in terms of knowledge, not level of asshattery), but also pretty damn sensible about things. I'd say that's quite rare for a sabb.

Should be a good year!

15. Ashley Brown

Mar 17 2009 11:59

We aren't in the 94 Group, but a fair few UL colleges are. Maybe they got confused.

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