Handle-Davis and Farmer win Student Senate executive positions

The results of the Student Senate election were announced Friday evening with Women Affairs Commissioner Megan Handle elected as the next president, Greek Life Senator Isaac Davis as the next vice president and Athletics Senator Reagan Farmer as the next treasurer.

All photos are credit of the Student Senate Judicial Panel Instagram @oujudicialpanel.

To open the reading of the results, Graduate Assistant Nathaniel Padilla addressed the need for a redo of the election. Padilla noted spending all day on the phone with Ohio U’s Office of Information and concluded there was “inaccuracy in student’s votes and would create an unfair election.”

Executive Justice Emily Zeiler went on to mention the voter turnout more than doubled from last year. This year’s turnout, for the second election, was 1,158 votes, compared to last year’s 638 votes, according to the presentation presented at the event.  

When contacted by The New Political for comment, Handle said: “We are so, so excited with this opportunity to take office and serve our OU community. I have loved my time in Senate tremendously and cannot wait to step into the role of president. We will do everything we can to help Senate be there for our students and improve life on and off campus! I'm excited to finish out the year strong with our current team and am ecstatic to continue our work in the fall.”

Davis echoed similar sentiments expressing honor and excitement for the role, and thanking those who made it happen. 

“I would also like to thank those who took the time to vote this year, and once we assume office in the fall, We’ll Handle it!” Davis said.

Farmer, from the Lewis Gordillo ticket, although she will be leading with the opposing ticket, voiced excitement for the role and to be working alongside Handle and Davis. 

“I am honored that the students of Ohio University have chosen me as their representative and entrusted me with this responsibility,” Farmer said about her win. “I am grateful for the chance to serve and I am looking forward to getting to work with President-elect Handle and Vice President-elect Davis.”

Handle and Davis ran against Clay Lewis and Dan Gordillo on the Lewis-Gordillo-Farmer ticket and Trinity Robinson, Dylan DeMonte and Arthur Bargainer from the EMPOWEROHIO campaign.

Dylan DeMonte, speaking on behalf of himself and not EMPOWEROHIO as a whole, said: “I'm optimistic that I may finally be able to relax and enjoy a year before I graduate, and l am confident that I'm leaving behind a more effective Academic Affairs Commission. Good luck Megan, Isaac and Reagan; it's a hell of a job to take on.”

Robinson, DeMonte’s running mate, said “good luck to Student Senate.”

“I won’t stop campaigning for students. This is a sting but sometimes you have to be knocked down to come back harder,” Gordillo wrote in a statement.“I wish the executive officer elects the best of luck in their new positions. We’re all on team Bobcat, after all.”

“All results are pending upon the acceptance of each candidate,” according to a release by the Judicial Panel on Instagram.