Preston and Quinn re-elected - for better or worse!
By Frank Talk
Ben Preston and Peter Quinn have been re-elected as President and Deputy President of the Students' Executive.
Mr Preston fought a close contest with rival Paddy Maguire, the so-called 'Queen's Radio' candidate.
Mr Preston is known to have the backing of the CU(Christian Union) , which has become a powerful voting block within the University, but both President and Deputy President claim to be a-political.
The re-elected President and Deputy President will oversee the final phases of the Unions redevelopment.
posted by Gown Team at
3:08 pm
19 Comments:
Any figures for the counts?
No figures just yet...but watch this space.
Same old names, same old games, what does the students' union executive actually do for us. To my mind they make money for doing very little indeed!
I hear Mr Preston may have won the election yesterday but has now managed to lose nearly half the support of his current executive by backing the head of Sinn Fein IRA. Also I hear Mr Preston had a bit of a run in with his community Action officer, which to my knowledge were very good friends prior to him making his decision. Mr Preston has to grow up and learn that it was not Sinn Fein\IRA who got him elected, and I imagine his vote shows this. Being a bit of a political analysed I feel Mr Preston has 'shit in his nest' as the Christian Union have turned there backs on him, a vote which is down nearly 100% on last year. This is very disappointing for a President as I would imagine that your vote should have been rising when you have been in a position of power and influence. Compared to Peter, who I believe has put in the work, his vote has actually went up from last year- Fair play Pete.
So what does this mean for us as a students Union. A President who no Longer has the support of the Christian Union, the support of the Unionist Community, his current Executive, and a Sinn Fein party who will demolish what Ben stands for (Keeping Politics out of the SU).
on anaylsis of the figures the CU did come in much the same amounts as last year. Look at the figures for the MBC, Preston polled over 183 first preferences in there. Small groups and other people from CU did come out and vote for a guy they already knew. Make no bones about it, it was CU vs QR in this election.
The only people that didn't come out and vote were SF and DUA. No suprises there, neither party was willing to run against Quinn or Preston. You mentioned a run-in with the SCA, from what I heard about the incident it was assault, leaving Preston visibly shocked. But then maybe that's how the DUA air their differences?
An interesting anaylsis on the President's current support, lets examine it...
support of CU - very visible on the day
support of Exec - 2 voting and potentially 1 non voting member might go against him. I count 7 for him.
support of the Unionist - ok... that one might need some time to heal. I'd imagine Preston won't seek to alienate them any further, eg having a hunger strike show in the Mandela. Preston I imagine will block that event.
backing the head of Sinn Fein IRA
Ben did no such thing!
As the last poster said the CU vote did come out but the Political parties didn't.
bit of a run in with his community Action officer
Is that what you would call it?
What would you then call it Chris?
Ben has hurt friends, peers and members of the unionist and CU communities by his recent actions. Where was his canvassing team on Thursday? I was at several polling stations and only saw one person out for him. And I know for a fact many CU members disgusted with him, and certainly has lost their support.
It will certainly be interesting to see how Preston plays the immediate future. He must do something positive very soon to make amends to the unionist and CU communities, or he will lose the support of his Executive.
Finally, congratulations to Peter Quinn on his re-election. Delighted in him being returned with an increased majority. He certainly has my support.
I don't think Ben Preston would claim that it was Sinn Fein/IRA or the DUA who got hom elected. Both Preston and Quinn were re-elected because of the hard work they put in over the past year. There supporters who were out on the day were ordinary students who respect what they have they stand for and thats putting students first. Sinn Fein/IRA and the DUA stayed away from the polls and Preston and Quinn were elected with out them, proving that they are in no groups pocket.
What would you then call it Chris?
I would call it assault
Ben has hurt friends, peers and members of the unionist and CU communities by his recent actions.
How? What did he do wrong?
Where was his canvassing team on Thursday?
Out canvassing!
I was around the University all day. He had all bases covered by at least 2 canvassers.
And I know for a fact many CU members disgusted with him
Why?
he will lose the support of his Executive.
Now you are just talking crap!
All the Sabbats support him, that is 4 votes so far. He has the support of the Womens officer, International students officer and the mature students officer.
He will possibly, and I very much doubt if he will, lose the support of 3 exec members.
That leaves 9 supporting and 3 opposing.
How is that losing the support of his executive?
The DUA are finally realising how weak they really are at Queens. They assumed Ben was one of them until he flexed his independent muscles. Unionists wanted to hang on to his coat-tails and there finally realising that he is in nobodys pocket.
Any so called 'friends' of Ben who have been insulted by his behaviour simply do not understand or respect his vision for the students' union.
Why is it that some people tie the CU with the DUA. Most people within the CU care about fair trade and social justice and not student politics. The CU has never been a big voting bloc with the SU, Ben and Pete's won re-election through hard work.
One more thing, the DUA is is a complete mess. They have fielded absolutley no candidates in the elections and couldn't even find a DUA candidate to stand against Gaskin. I really am laughing. :)
Most people within the CU care about fair trade and social justice and not student politics.
And presumably Christianity?
I would hope so!
That Peter Quinn managed to increase his vote despite a much lower turnout than last year shows that the electorate does recoginise a worker and Peter deserves to be congratulated.
Ben Preston's vote on the other hand appears to have collapsed somewhat since last year.
Next Thursday will be interesting.
Indeed it will David
View information on results at: http://thegown.blogspot.com/2006/02/preston-wins-by-just-103-votes.html
And just what exactly is our Presidents vision for QUBSU? Fairtrade coffee and group-hugs all round?
The only media appearance I seen him make was with the erstwhile Chris Stalford and Sinn Fein's Matt Carthy talking about young people and (oh my God I better not say it in case I conflict with his "vision") POLITICS. He was absolutely abysmal - Carthy was slick and Stalford articulated his case well Preston just came across as a tree-hugging bafoon.
This man is supposed to be our figurehead - he is an embarrassment!
Ben Preston's vote on the other hand appears to have collapsed somewhat since last year.
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His vote has collapsed despite the fact that he has polled a higher percentage of the total vote cast?
A strange sort of collapse.
PS
Percentages twaddle he was kicking the arse of 1000 last year now he's on 545 or something like that.
I think I can say that many people feel disappointed by Preston backing SF in todays electon. Its pity that Ben has failed to remain as an independant. He has lost the support of the Unionist community and of the many people who support the centre ground at Queens. SF will use him and drop him once they have got what they want from him. A pity that's the way it will end, espically to a nice guy
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