Joseph '06 wins USG presidency by small margin

After one of the closest USG elections to date, Leslie-Bernard Joseph '06 has become the next USG president with 1,321 votes.

Joseph defeated opponent and current USG vice-president Shaun Callaghan '06 by only 11 votes.

"When I found out I won, I was speechless," Joseph said. "It was sheer joy."

Joseph's campaign included promises to make "a better Princeton and a USG that's a tangible force and an inspiring government."

He said he already has plans to implement these goals.

Joseph is arranging a meeting with the administration to discuss his idea for a "Princeton in the Nation's Service Day."

He said he could not have won the election without his fellow students' support.

"I just want to thank every single person who took the time to read my fliers and believed in me," Joseph said.

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Joseph said he has nothing but respect for his opponent, Callaghan.

Callaghan said he was surprised and incredibly disappointed when he found out the election results.

"I ran a positive campaign and worked really hard," Callaghan said. "I have no regrets."

Callaghan hopes that Joseph will be able to step up to the responsibility of USG president.

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"His ideas are sweeping and abstract, but I wish the USG good luck because it's a great body," he said.

Current USG President Matt Margolin '05 said it was exciting to see how close the election results were.

"In the end it came down to the campaign and the issues," he said.

Margolin said he is confident that Joseph will be able to represent the student body to the administration.

Vice-presidential runoff

Jesse Creed '07 and Freddie Flaxman '07 are the two candidates in the vice-presidential runoff election that begins today, having received 788 and 700 votes, respectively.

"When I found out I was in the runoff, I was really excited," Creed said.

He plans to spend the next 36 hours making his name known to all students.

"I'll be sending out emails and going to dining halls," he said.

Flaxman is equally excited about being in the runoff election.

"I'm happy that I made it to the runoffs, but that means I still have 36 hours to go," Flaxman said.

Runoff voting will be from 12 p.m. Wednesday to 11:59 a.m. Thursday. Results will be announced Thursday afternoon.

The other USG Executive Committee winners are Meka Asonye '07 for treasurer, Robert Wai Wong '06 for academics chair, Tom Brown '07 for undergraduate life chairperson and Carol Wang '07 for campus and community affairs chairperson.

The new Class of 2006 senators are Karis Gong and Michael Murray. The Class of 2007 senators are Alex Lenahan and Chris Willis and the Class of 2008 senators are Andre Pasinetti and Sunshine Yin.