Government Oversight Committee Agenda
Chair: Vaughn Sayers
February 1st, 2016
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the John E. Sapp
I.
Call to Order
a. Meeting called to order at 6.00PM.
II.
Roll Call – Vice Chair
a.
Quorum has been established with 7 voting members; Lee, Sorrentino, Gislason,
Feghali, Dowdie, Saathoff, Johnson.
III.
Approval of Minutes – January 11th, 2016
a. Senator Lee: Motion to approve the minutes from January 11th, 2016. Second. Adopted.
IV.
Approval of Agenda
a. Senator Sorrentino: Motion to approve tonight’s agenda. Second. Adopted.
V.
Student Remarks
VI.
Guest Speakers
VII.
Remarks of the Chair
a. I look forward to working with you all in this capacity. Tonight we will be reconfirming
the Elections Commissioner and interviewing an appointee. Ask good questions to both
individuals.
VIII.
Unfinished Business
IX.
New Business
a. Elections Commissioner Reconfirmation
i. Bradley Johnson
1. As you all know I am Brad Johnson a fifth year senior so I’ll be done at
the end of this semester. That’s an important thing to note for this
hearing today. I am a mechanical engineering major and I’ve been the
elections commissioner since two weeks ago last year so I’m just over a
year now. I have had a lot of fun as the elections commissioner. I’ve had
a blast actually. We’ve made a lot of improvements I am hoping to
explain anything if you have any questions I ask you to ask a lot of
questions. I’m happy to use these questions in an educational way
because some of you are newer. I want to congratulate the new
chairman as well on his position. When I first started my position only
had one other person in it and it was the fall of 2014. When I got
appointed by President Joe Turner I was thrown into the fire, the spring
elections had already started, there were forms online that I had to
chase down, a lot of issues in my appointment being so late in the
game. Last spring was very hectic it was the first competitive election
under our new elections system. I’m only the second elections
commissioner. I was the first to run the presidential elections under our
new system where the elections commissioner is more of a two entity
position. I was really excited about the elections it went really well. Last
Spring election proves that we are going in the right direction. Interest
in it can be compared within the next few years. I haven’t had the
opportunity to see long term results because it has only been a year and
a half since this position and office has run elections. However I believe
that my office and I have been rather successful in continuing to
propagate the ideas that were created in the creation of this new
elections system. I really think it has worked well. It has been an honor
to work in this position. It has helped to create more opportunities,
smooth out rough edges when the bill was first created and office was
first created. I’ve spent time cleaning up some of the loopholes and
issues that we saw with that spring election. When President Turner
asked me if I wanted to do this, there was no question I love the
opportunity I have been given and love what I have been able to do. It’s
an ever-changing system that is always needing improvement there is
so much still to do. I always keep track of my ideas and hope to share
that with the next Elections Commissioner to follow in my footsteps. I
want this office to carry on as an honest body with the goal of running
an unbiased election. With that I talked to president Guerra and we
have opened up the search for a new elections commissioner next week
I am not going to resign, assuming you reconfirm me, we are looking for
a candidate to vet while I run the spring elections. The candidate will
shadow me and learn hands on, to make the process an easier
transition. That’s important for you all to know in making your decision.
Thank you all for listening and I hope you have questions. I am happy to
answer any and all of your questions.
2. Chairman Sayers: are there any questions on the table?
3. Senator Gislason: If we do reconfirm, will you teach the person chosen
to replace you what an Election Commissioner does?
4. Bradley Johnson: That would be ideal. The idea is if we start this
elections process early enough we will have a candidate learning from
me during this elections process. I will do any amount of work to ensure
that the elections process continues to run successfully. This is my goal.
5. Senator Lee: Point of information if you must abstain from a vote can
we still ask questions and discuss after words?
6. Ms. Shore: You can always abstain during a vote by stating you have a
conflict of interest.
7. Senator Saathoff: What will be the procedure if no one steps up?
8. Bradley Johnson: a brief overview. My office was created about 2 years
ago. To take some of the power and weight off of the senators who run
in elections. A lot of other universities have moved to this system. It is a
good system. A lot of duties in policy and statute fall onto the attorney
general. Most duties of Attorney general have passed. If I didn’t get
reconfirmed measures would be taken.
9. Chairman Sayers: How do you intend to increase voter turnout in these
upcoming elections?
10. Bradley Johnson: There are so many things I want to try to improve,
advertisement. The voter turnout is very complicated. My goal is always
to increase voter turnout. And improve the way in which we
communicate with students. My website presence was none last spring,
was new. I have a much more organized website presence now. That is
a good starting block. Lots of signs, banners I’m working on, shirts.
Shirts help quite a bit. Last semester we used new shirts to try to
increase advertisement. Unfortunately last semester there was no
competitive election. Competitive election, with better advertisement
and hard work from my office will increase voter turnout. My Open
door policy has helped a lot.
11. Senator Lee: If you do in fact run this next election and have someone
shadow you, how will you teach them everything while keeping up with
the pace of the elections?
12. Bradley Johnson: I actually think it is the opposite problem I think they
will help me. It will be like having an apprentice. They would help me
more than hurt me. We need to recruit a person while we can.
13. Chairman Sayers: Any more questions I see none. Is there a motion?
14. Senator Johnson: Motion to approve Bradley Johnson
15. Chairman Sayers: Second. Discussion
16. Senator Dowdie: Mr. Johnson has had this position for a while. Really
qualified individual. Has worked to improve the system. I see no reason
to not reconfirm him especially because he has a plan in place for the
person to replace him the next semester.
17. Chairman Sayers: Any more discussion. I see none. We will take it to a
roll call vote.
18. Senator Lee: Senator, Sorrentino. Yes. Gislason. Yes. Feghali. Yes.
Dowdie. Yes. Saathoff. Yes. Johnson. Yes. Lee. Abstain because a conflict
of interest.
19. Chairman Sayers: Motion passes 6-1-0.
b. Legislative Appointment
i. Jen Lee
1. Chairman Sayers: Ms. Lee. Why do you want to join senate?
2. Ms. Lee: My name is Jen Lee. I am a first year. I did student government
in high school. I want to pursue a career in law. I want to be involved
with student government because I’m very passionate about the
allocation of student expenses. I want to ensure funds are dispersed in
fair manner. I have a very strong work ethic. There will not be an issue
conflicting with schoolwork because I have a lighter load this semester. I
want to join the Government Oversight committee, it would be a good
way to meet new senators. I have some leadership experience having
set up an animal rights initiative at my high school. Currently I am
involved with model UN. Asia FSA and was the secretary on honors
student union board. I did the minutes. I do have some intuitive ideas,
but I would like to run them by people before proposing them. I have
also looked through the Constitution and Statues as well as the Senate
Policies and Procedures.
3. Chairman Sayers: Are there any questions?
4. Senator Saathoff: You made a comment about the 4.5 million dollar
budget, are you aware of the B and A committee? And why don’t you
want to join that?
5. Ms. Lee: I thought USA made decisions about budget and B and A
approved them, but I can always create my own bill to improve the
system.
6. Senator Gislason: which seat is Ms. Lee going for?
7. Chairman Sayers: Fall.
8. Senator Saathoff: How will you be a good representative for the
students?
9. Ms. Lee: I have good judgement and can accomplish a lot of work. Will
work extremely hard for students and represent them to the best of my
ability.
10. Senator Dowdie: what do you feel the role of student government is in
relation to the students?
11. Ms. Lee: Student Government represents there interests and allocates
the budget in a manner they would approve of.
12. Chairman Sayers: When you leave Student Government and graduate
what would you want to take away from it?
13. Ms. Lee: I hope to have made the University better. I hope it will have
helped in my career as well as help as many students as possible.
14. Chairman Sayers: Are there any more questions? I see none. Is there a
motion?
15. Senator Sorrentino: I motion to approve Ms. Lee for a senate hearing
appointment.
16. Chairman Sayers: Second. Discussion.
17. Senator Johnson: Ms. Lee sounds dedicated and is involved. She is an
honor student dedicated to her studies. I think she would be a good
addition.
18. Senator Lee: I personally know Ms. Lee from Asia FSA. She is
hardworking and would work very hard for this institution and for the
students
19. Chairman Sayers: we will take this to a roll call vote.
20. Senator Lee: Senator, Lee Yes., Sorrentino. Yes, Gislason. Yes. Feghali.
Yes. Dowdie. Yes. Saathoff. Yes, Johnson. Yes.
21. Chairman Sayers: Motion Passes 7-0-0. Congratulations.
X.
Announcements
XI.
Final Roll Call – Vice Chair
a. Senator Lee: Senator, Lee here. Sorrentino. Here, Gislason. Here. Feghali. Here. Dowdie.
Saathoff. Here, Johnson. Here.
b. Reestablish quorum with 7 voting members
XII.
Adjournment
a. Chairman Sayers: Adjournment at 6:29 PM
Minutes taken by Nina Lee, GO Vice-Chair