Farmer wins CitySA presidential election

Mark Farmer has won the race to be the next president of City of Glasgow College Students' Association (CitySA).

The HND Sports Coaching with Development of Sport student topped the polls with 218 votes in the first round after 2011/12 president Emma Iwanow dramatically resigned on Monday and withdrew from the race.

Farmer's nearest challenger was Helen Grant with 79, while Peter Hobson polled 69 with Arron McNamara securing 64 votes.

Turnout for the presidential election was was reported as 430 with the quota at 216 once Iwanow's second preferences were counted putting turnout down by 58%, however, The Journal understands that a number of students had Iwanow as their only preference.

The number of first preference votes for Iwanow remains unknown. Farmer, 29, reacted to his victory on the City of Glasgow College website.

“I am absolutely delighted with the result, and hope to take the Students’ Association from strength to strength.

“I am really looking forward to working with the new vice presidents Amos and Natasha – I think we’ll work well together, and be a positive voice for students at City of Glasgow College.”

Farmer, who was the sports executive last year, pledged to create a united college, bringing together the college's nine campuses across the city centre; work with local businesses 'to give students a brighter future'; increase sporting opportunities at the college; give students areas to enjoy outside college, and lead an 'effective student executive that have open and friendly relationships with students'.

Joining Farmer as paid student leaders at CitySA are Amos Ogunyemi and Natasha MacDonald who were elected to the part-time positions of vice president learning and teaching and vice president activities respectively.

MacDonald took the vice president activities with 318 in the first round against Paula Isaac's 126, with Ryan Steele picking up 59 votes.

Ogunyemi secured his position in the third round with 279 after securing 245 in first preference to nearest challenger Marta Scorziello's 209.

Despite Scorziello picking up more second and third preference votes, Ogunyemi won by 37 votes.

Reacting to the election results, John Gaughan, outgoing vice president, tweeted: "It is a relief to finally have the results where I am confident the new leaders will continue to develop.

"I think Mark will lead the association well with his ambition and creative ideas to get students more involved.

"Amos will no doubt make it clear that students are #1 with a firm policy on every decision being made, is in there best interest.

"Natasha will thrive on her ideas making the College fun for all students."

No reason was given for why the election results were withheld for six weeks.