Jim Rich '96, a 21-year-old government major from Bedford, N.H., easily beat out two candidates yesterday to win the Student Assembly presidential election. Rich ran on a platform of Assembly reform and opposition to primarily-freshman residence halls.
Kelii Opulauoho '96, a 20-year-old from Pearl City, Hawaii, more than doubled his closest competitor's vote totals in winning the vice presidency. Director of Student Activities Tim Moore brought the election results to The Dartmouth at 3:10 this morning.
"I'm very happy," Rich said in an interview early this morning. "I hope that I can work with [Opulauoho] and the Assembly so we can reach compromises on issues and represent the opinion of Dartmouth students."
Rich, a brother in Alpha Delta fraternity and the captain of the men's tennis team, received 548 votes, 79 more than Phil Ferrera '96, who finished second. About 1,735 students turned out to vote --134 more than last year.
"I hope the new Assembly, under the initiatives of my review plan and the proposals of the External Review Committee, will help to make the Assembly more representative, responsive, accountable and legitimate," Rich said.
Rich is currently a member of the Committee on Standards, the College's undergraduate judicial body.
During the campaign, he said the College should revamp of the Office of Residential Life housing lottery system, make student life budget a fiscal priority and ensure that need-blind admissions remain a budget priority.
Opulauoho, who ran on a ticket with Ferrera, said he is "excited" to have won the race. He said he will still work for the goals on which he and Ferrera campaigned by addressing the needs of minority students and expanding campus social options.
Opulauoho is the Area Coordinator for the River Cluster and the vice president of Sigma Nu fraternity.
"I'm not sure what my dynamic with Rich will be yet, but that's something to work on," Opulauoho said. Rich embraced Opulauoho outside the offices of The Dartmouth after both were interviewed.
Opulauoho, who received 753 votes, said because more students voted for him than any other presidential or vice-presidential candidate, students have voiced their approval of his campaign. Bill Tovell '96 finished second in the election with 305 votes.
Brandon del Pozo '96, who finished third in the presidential campaign with 406 votes, said he "would have been happier if things turned out differently than they did."
Miscellaneous write-in candidates received 165 votes, several for Brian "Kato" Kaelin, Moore said. Write-in candidate David Grelotti '96 received 147 votes. Kaelin is a material witness in the O.J. Simpson double-murder trial.
Scott Rowekamp '97 finished third in the vice presidential race with 265 votes, while write-in candidate Ping-Ann Addo '96 had 168 votes and Aleph Henestrosa '96 finished last with 61 votes. Miscellaneous write-in candidates for vice president received 164 votes.
Ferrera could not be reached for comment.
