Preliminary Analysis of the UCDSU Sabbattical Elections 2004

dublin | politics / elections | opinion/analysis Thursday December 18, 2003 17:06 by tallyrand

With candidates already being talked about and negotiations begining in earnest in looks like a Left-Right battle in the UCDSU elections 2004. Note: Discussion on this topic continues at the UCD message board

With the left winning control of the majority of Sabbatical positions last Spring it looks like they will be going to extend their control this year. The right are divided, while the left are very united coming into the New Year.

On the Right it looks like Pro- Coca Cola Leader Michael Binchy, FG member and 3rd Year Law student, will be going for the top job. While other right-wing candidates may included Gregg O'Neill of FF going for Deputy President, with James Doyle and James Carroll bidding for other positions. The expulsion of Richard Waghorne from the Coke Campaign may come back to haunt Binchy and co. as he may run against another right-wing candidate and split the right vote. Waghorne is fresh from a successful Academic Council election where he sneeked the last seat in the SP 77% landslide in Arts. Others speculated about include Anthony Kelly, Donnachadh Woulfe or Jennifer Allen throwing their hats into the ring for the Presidential election.

On the left end of the spectrum there is talk of a 'left slate' united front to finally kick out the right-wingers. Ciarán Weafer, 2nd Years Arts student, may be going for the Presidents office with Womens Officer Aoife Mulqueen going for Welfare. Fresh from winning 5 seats on the Academic Council it looks like the SP are going for a Sabbatical position- probably Deputy President or retaining Education. With the 2nd Coke win under their belts it's also romoured in the corridors of power that the current President, Deputy Presdient or Development Officer may get involved in the race for President. Unlike the right, it looks as if the left will be putting forward a united front.

Elsewhere in Hackdom, Abey's Man Pierce Farrell is trying to get a campaign team together. Unfortunatly for the Vice Chair it looks as if his attempts at a Popular Front are failing as both Left and Right don't see him as a credible candidate. Last Year's Welfare Officer is also talking of a Presidential bid. However Famous Séamus is unlikely to even collect the required 130 signatures!

SO, it looks like there will be a strong left/right divide in the upcoming Sabbatical elections in UCD. And I predict that the left will win out. One thing I can gaurentee is that the picture will become a lot more clearer after the Christmas break.

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