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So who wants this thing?

Don’t ask me why I felt the need to watch the Antoine Dodson video and accompanying remix at 10:04 this morning — I just did, alright.

And thus started this torturous day, dictated by an endless loop of ‘he’s climbin’ in yo’ windows, he’s snatchin’ yo’ peoples up’ incessantly running through my head, a reality that would make me ultimately question the value of existence.

Did you know they gave that guy a reality show? Well, if a rube like that can find success, surely someone can enter this University Students’ Council presidential race and make things interesting, no?

Yep — that’s the heavy handed way I’ve chosen to open this entry in an elections blog that — like the Dodson tune — we’re stuck with despite it being increasingly irrelevant and tedious.

There’s just under a week left in the nomination period — please, try to contain your excitement —  and the picture of what kind of race we’re going to witness — and try to draw substance out of like a drenched cell phone in a cup of rice — is slowly revealing itself.

Here’s a list of the information we have gathered about those who are running, those who aren’t and those who said they would but then pulled chute. Of course, if you’d like to tip us off to any other potential candidates, you know where to reach us and we’ll update the list later this week if necessary. Please, world — make it necessary.

Rumoured to be running

Andrew Forgione — The current social science council president has made his intention of running no secret around campus and, considering the lackluster competition, he’s easily the front runner going into the race. He also has the distinction of representing the school’s largest faculty and having ten heavily-involved social science councilors on the USC at his disposal to help with some of the campaign leg work. Think of Forgione as the George Smitherman of this campaign — he comes into it as the clear favourite and is heads and shoulders above the opposition in terms of political savvy and polish.

Omid Salari — If Forgione is the Smitherman of this race, then Salari is the Rob Ford — a council veteran who talks to voters on their level and could possibly ride a well-structured, populist campaign to victory. It’s been rumoured that Salari originally planned to run as a joke candidate but with the lack of other serious contenders he may rethink that strategy and take a serious run at it. Salari, the USC speaker the last two years, surely knows his stuff when it comes to council and is charming enough to win over voters. He will need to run a more serious campaign than his previous run for communications officer, however, if he wants voters to take him seriously. Of course, the eccentric Salari is known for getting, um, creative with his pursuits. Be warned.

Rumoured to be running — but not running

Emily Jarvis — Jarvis, a USC Representative and three-year veteran of the King’s students’ council, had been rumoured as a potential candidate but won’t  be running. Like so many other USC veterans, she will likely be bypassing the presidential race to chase a Vice-President position. It seems no one from King’s will be entering the race.  The last King’s candidate to take a stab at the presidency, Tabitha Navratil, didn’t do so hot, finishing a distant fifth in a seven horse race. But there is something to be said for being the ‘affiliates candidate’ and drawing out the vote from the legions of students who surround main campus like armies waiting to flank a stronghold.

Brandon Sousa — Sousa was making noise about taking a run at president as early as last year, but has since decided he will not be running for personal reasons. Sousa — a veteran MIT councilor — is personable and has plenty of USC experience and political savvy to draw on which would have made him an ideal opponent for Forgione. Unfortunately, the occasional musician won’t be a part of the race.

Shayan — It’s only a rumour, but apparently Shayan of “White and Purple” fame was considering taking a run at the presidency before he was talked out of it by a very wise voice of reason. He likely would have been extremely over-matched in virtually all USC debate categories, shy of the ‘Western-themed hip hop spoof music video’ section. But if you believe that most students vote purely based on name-appeal — Shhhh! — Shayan may have had an outside shot. At the very least he would have made the best obligatory campaign music video.

Pat Searle — It’s not surprising that some spoke of Searle as a potential contender, despite his never showing much interest in the presidency. Searle, of Fuss on the Bus fame, was the ideal candidate for many — engaging, involved, personable. But alas, he will not be throwing his hat into the ring. The two-time USC senator will instead likely be chasing a Vice-President position on next year’s USC executive council.

Tamer Abdalla — Abdalla, a USC commissioner, also considered taking a run at the presidency, only to opt for what it seems every other potential quality candidate has chosen — to pursue a vice-presidential position instead. Abdalla will likely join the campaign team of social science president Andrew Forgione, the faraway front runner in the race thus far, and seek to be his right-hand man on next year’s executive council.

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