Despite a narrow vote and a confirmation hearing that could be described as intense, Cedar Cosner was confirmed as elections coordinator by the ASUO Senate during a special Tuesday meeting.
Cosner described his experience as a park ranger, a role in which he often had to mediate disputes between park visitors, as a valuable background for the elections role. Cosner explained that his status as an ASUO newcomer would prove beneficial in maintaining an unbiased approach to elections rules.
“Being in a government job, you are strictly not allowed to take any kind of side,” Cosner said.
A number of senators had concerns about Cosner’s qualifications.
“I have a lot of personal investment in making sure this position is filled in a quality way this year,” Sen. Kaitlyn Lange said.
“Can you speak to any knowledge you have of past elections?” she asked Cosner, who replied that his lack thereof was an asset.
Sen. Ben Bowman was eager to hear how Cosner planned to deal with the formal protests filed to the elections board alleging misconduct by candidates in elections.
“Do you have any ideas as far as making sure that when a grievance is filed, it’s not going to take three or four days?” Bowman asked. “I don’t want it to turn into Thursdays and Fridays becoming free-for-all days.”
“I believe that a lot of the issues can be resolved, or at least a portion of it can be resolved in the explicitness of the election rules,” Cosner replied.
Cosner also said that he would be willing to take on reforming the elections process, which generated applause from the senators.
Lange was not impressed with Cosner’s answers and advocated holding the subject over until next week.
“I’m in a mood to table your confirmation,” Lange explained. “You can’t really be qualified for the position yet. As of right now, every single question you’ve only been able to half-answer, because you don’t know those things right now.”
Lange was not able to get the confirmation vote delayed, and by a final tally of 9-6, Cosner was confirmed to the position.
“I feel it went rather smoothly,” Cosner said after the meeting. “I feel the fact that I wasn’t ready to commit to anything is a strength. I do hope that students will find me as a readily available outlet to voice their concerns.”