It’s time to run for office
Ever wondered about those extra fees listed when registering for classes at Santa Monica College (SMC)? If students pay the optional Associated Students (A.S.) Resource fee of $10, they become a member of the A.S. organization. Benefits of being a member include free printing and access to the A.S. computer lab, free scantrons and blue books, campus events, student clubs, and discounts to campus performances and some restaurants.
Another benefit of being a member of the A.S. is the access to run for student leadership positions, like becoming an elected official on the A.S. Board of Directors. If a student decides to run, they’ll have to get elected in order to serve on the board.
David Duncan, current A.S. President, recommends talking to as many people as possible to let them know that you are running, and to remind them to vote. Jordan Davis, A.S. Director of Budget Management, mentioned how important it is to choose student campaign workers that can work well with you and your campaign.
Campaign workers must be verified prior to campaigning, as they are representing the candidate, and their behavior may disqualify the candidate if they don’t adhere to campaign guidelines. On the other hand, their work can be crucial to the success of a campaign as, according to the campaign guidelines, they can speak on the candidates’ behalf in virtual venues or classrooms, as long as they are approved by the candidate they represent. This can effectively increase outreach and improve visibility to voters.
Davis emphasized the importance of sticking to the promises made during the campaign. “I think it’s important to communicate your intention to the students and show how you can be there for them as an elected official.”
When asked about his experience so far, Davis said, “I had a lot of expectations and a lot of pressure for what the role was and what responsibilities I would (have). I think once I got used to the pace around the office and how things are completed, and what my role in the government was, I think things were a lot easier and manageable, and my stress kind of went down.”
If you are interested in running for a seat on the A.S. Board of Directors for the 2025-26 academic year, the deadline to apply for candidacy is Tuesday, March 18, 2025 by 5 p.m.
All positions are up for re-election, including:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Director of Budget Management
Director of Activities
Director of Outreach
Director of Equity and Diversity
Director of External Affairs
Director of Basic Needs
Director of Instructional Support
Director of Publicity
Director of Sustainability
Be aware that there are several Mandatory Candidates Meetings coming up, and you must attend at least one to be eligible to run for an A.S. position.
The dates for the Mandatory Candidates Meetings are:
Wednesday, March 12 at 3 p.m.
Thursday, March 13 at 11:15 a.m.
Tuesday, March 18 at 12 p.m.
All meetings are held in person at the Cayton Computer Lab on the second floor of the Cayton Center on the main campus.
For more information about what running for a Director position entails, please refer to the A.S. election website.