Western Courier

Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Adam Sacasa Blake Antonides defeated Jessie Kallman and will be the new student chair for Board of Trustees.

After a tight race for the chair on the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees, Blake Antonides gained a victory over Jessie Kallman to the tune of 813 votes to 640 Thursday night.

The announcement of Antonides' win ushered a long applause, leaving the winner blushing with excitement.

"I don't really have any thoughts right now; I'm just taken," Antonides said. "I won, I thought it was going to be really close. I wasn't expecting any specific outcome, and I'm glad everyone campaigned hard."

He added that it isn't the end for the losing candidates, and there will be future opportunities.

However, Antonides said the number of ballots cast was not as much as he expected.

"I was expecting at least a couple thousand, because there was a lot of campaigning going on, and I just though there would be a little more," Antonides said.

He also touched on what his plans are for the future as BOT representative.

"Once I take office, the first step will be to reacquaint myself with all the trustees and the president and see how the university has been functioning from the administrative level, where we're at in the strategic plan and the challenges we are facing with the state budget," Antonides said.

He added he is grateful for the students who took the time to vote, and said they will not be disappointed.

Also leaving victorious Thursday was Student Government Association presidential candidate Robert Dulski and vice presidential candidate David Campos.

"I put a lot of hard work into this, and David and I are just really excited to get the ball moving," Dulski said. "The current SGA has done a great job with everything, and we just want to continue this; this is a great position to have."

He added his major priority is the students and he is excited to get to work.

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