David Padilla

Sen. David Padilla, vice-presidential candidate on The People slate, said that getting involved with and adjusting to a new student government has pushed him to keep learning and working for students.

Padilla was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and moved here last summer. He is still learning how ASUNM interacts with the University administration, he said, and how the administration interacts with the state. He said that the more he learns about the system, the more he will be able to change it.

Padilla said his involvement with ASUNM and past leadership experiences qualify him for the vice-presidental position. He served as president, vice-president and treasurer of El Paso Community College between 1997 and 2000. He said he met representatives at the state and national level while he was in El Paso and went to Washington D.C., to advocate for financial aid and work study programs.

This election's campaign got off to a good start, Padilla said, though things have changed a bit.

"It's getting down and dirty, but that's the way politics get," he said.

He mentioned how candidates from the opposing slate, The Connection, refused to take part in the Pre-Law Association debate. He said the same candidates bacame offended and did not answer questions about race issues that people asked during the ASUNM candidate forum last week. He said the candidates should have addressed the questions and acknowledged the campus' race issues. He added that The People slate is composed of people who want to address those issues and represent the underrepresented.

Padilla said ASUNM deals with appropriations and bills, but doesn't really deal with important student issues such as tuition increases. He said he would like see more Senate discussion on those issues as well as more participation from the gallery and media at full Senate meetings. He said he wants to use the ASUNM Public Relations Ad Hoc Committee to open up a direct line of communication between students and ASUNM.

"ASUNM should be a liaison and a bridge between students, the administration, faculty and staff," he said.

Padilla said it is frustrating trying to get students and organizations involved with ASUNM, but, with work, it can be done.

"It's a process that has to be taken one step at a time," he said.

Padilla said one of his greatest achievements has been relaying information amoung students, organizations and the Senate.

"I believe it's done quite a bit," he said.

He said one of his biggest fears if he were to become vice president would be to make a wrong decision for students.

"My position is there for the students," he said. "It's not my voice - it's their voice, and if I mess up, I've got a lot of students to answer to."

Padilla said he loves to hang out with his friends and dance salsa, meringue, hip-hop, techno and other styles.

"If I don't know how to do it - I will learn how to do it," he said.

Padilla is involved with UNM M.E.Ch.A., which is a national Chicano student group, and said the group's activities keep him busy. He said he and some of the members go to a detention center on Saturdays to give presentations and create arts and crafts with some of the teenagers.

Padilla is involved with the Hispanic Honor Society and is a junior in the architecture program.

He encourages all students to vote and said whoever wins the race will be good for the position.