Meet the candidates: A preview of school elections

On Tuesday, March 21, Student Council and Student Government candidates campaigned during both lunches in Panther Square. Lined with banners and littered with bodies, the square was loud with shouts of who to vote in the election, which will be held on Thursday, March 23, during both lunches as well. The candidates shared their own reasons for running and goals for their positions. Here is what they said.

Names marked with a * could not be reached or did not respond.

Student Council President

Chad Girnun*

Thomas Whiting:

“I first was interested because nobody ever really talked about the student council, it was just a thing that a few people were part of and that was it. So I decided I was going to change that. I want to mobilize student council to be a presence in the school to better represent our pride and accommodate the needs of all our peers and friends. I wanted it to no longer be some distant figure. I want to bring it to the people, where it belongs, attending to their needs. Also I didn’t like how this was all one big popularity contest. I want to end the somewhat oligarchal ways Student Council has been portrayed to allow our fellow students know it is a group to be trusted.”

Noah Chevalier: 
“I’ve been president for the past three years, I legit love Palmetto so much and I just wanna make people happy by giving them what they want, to a certain extent of course.”

Student Council Vice President

Dylan Weingarden:

“I feel like if I’m able to be Vice President I can organize and make sure clubs are running effectively. Also, I want to be able to be in a position to lead and be able to create a sense of passion and responsibility among my students to be involved in school events and help the school run efficiently.”

Student Council Secretary

Flynn Seckinger:
“I decided to run for student council secretary to change certain parts of the school and help students voice their opinions. I want the students to have more of a say in the planning of different activities and events that go on the school. I also want more of a student involvement in meetings.”

Marlowe Starling:

“In every club I’ve ever been a part of since elementary school, I’ve always held secretary positions so it comes as second nature to me. As Student Council Secretary, I would basically be like Ms. Valero’s right-hand woman, so I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to run for a position that will allow me to stay uber involved in school events while helping out the student body. It’s the perfect job for me. Plus, I’ve been on Senate for the past two years and even though I never previously won an election for secretary in student council, my experience as a Senator has really helped to build me up to the student council member I’ve become.”

Senior Class President

Sashi Cayard:

“Through the various activities and the organizations I participate in, I have been blessed to meet a diverse spectrum of students in my class. I hope with all my heart to have the opportunity as class president to get everyone involved in all the senior activities as much as I know I will, I would like to go down in the history of Miami Palmetto Senior High School as having set an extremely high bar for future classes to say ‘the class of 2018 is the most memorable class Palmetto has ever seen.’ I want to keep everyone included and I want to raise money for senior year.”

Jacob Spigelman:

“I’m running for Junior Class President because I have a lot of pride for my school and I want to represent my class and school by leading as president.”

Senior Class Vice President

Josh Ehrenkrantz*

Bari Gold*

Senior Class Secretary

Sofie Hammersmith*

Audrey Paz:

“As Senior Class Secretary, I hope to promote the ideas of my classmates in order to make our senior year the best it can possibly be.”

Junior Class President

Jonathan Chen
“I’m running for Junior Class President because I have a lot of pride for my school and I want to represent my class and school by leading as president.”

Junior Class Vice President

Ashley Fernandez*

Alia Hutton*

Ross Ladis:

“I like what I do. I want to increase magazine sales and I like the people I work with.”

Junior Class Secretary

Jake Sanchez*  

Mia Zaldivar:

“I like having more influence and you get more power and stuff. I really like being on student council because we get to run a lot of events and control what happens. I just feel like you have a higher voice and you get to do–whatever you want for you class you can help make it happen.”

Sophomore Class President:

Michael Salmon*

Logan Spiegelman:

“Well, I intended to run at the beginning of the year for freshman office, but I did not end up running, as I was afraid that I would not be able to balance school, basketball and student council. I soon realized how much I regret that decision, and over the past couple of months I’ve lined everything up so that I’d be able to run for office. To answer your question, I am running for class office because I want to prove my personal doubts wrong, and to make a positive impact at school.”

Samantha Mesa

“The reason I’m running is because there is nothing I love more then participating in school events, expressing my school spirit and making sure everyone, no matter who you are, is equal. Especially when it comes down to class events and how everyone enjoys spending their time. I have deep passion for my peers and Miami Palmetto Senior high. Last year mrs. Valero, our council board and I created a skit for panther prowl (lip sync battle themed) and for the first time in history of Miami Palmetto Senior High the freshman won the lip sync competition! Words could not describe how proud I was with the council and myself. Memories like these will never leave my mind, that is why I strive to continue my term as president.”

Michael Milian
“I’m running for sophomore president because I want to do great things for my class and I believe I can accomplish them. In addition, I enjoy being in a position of leadership because I know I can get things done. It’s not a matter of ‘this looks good for colleges’ or ‘this will make me popular.’ In doing this purely because i want to make a difference.”

Sophomore Class Vice President

Nicole Gazo**

Evan Golinsky**

Sophomore Class Secretary

Lauren Anderson**

Mackenzie Farkas:
“Well, I ran for treasurer last year and didn’t make it so I thought about what position that wouldn’t be too much work but I would still be considered a  part of student council and could still be active in the school so that is why I’m running for secretary of the sophomore class. Well, I ran for treasurer last year and didn’t make it so I thought about what position that wouldn’t be too much work  but I would still be considered a part of student council and could still be active in the school so that is why I’m running for secretary of the sophomore class.”