Is the outpouring of support temporary?

PonyBoy Peterman and Carey McIntosh narrowly beat out opponents Wakely Wolf and Kannezcia Sanamane for the office of ASG president and vice president for the 2017-18 school year.

Results of student voting were announced in the Main Mall on Tuesday. Peterman and McIntosh, who both served in Mt. Hood’s ASG (Associated Student Government) this year, won 115 votes to 90.

McIntosh said the pair’s campaign was successful because “We left ourselves out of it, we left our personal interests out of it. We focused mainly on the needs of other people and not necessarily our own. We wanted to make sure that students knew that they were our No. 1 priority.”

Peterman agreed. He said the two “prioritized the students…(we) took the time throughout the campaign to talk to them individually. I think that’s the most important thing, one-on-one communication.”

McIntosh said the pair’s first priority would be to help students graduate, “using all the resources we possibly can, using all the people we possibly can to let people know that they can be successful as possible here.”

Peterman say he would consider those who voted for his rival, moving forward.

“I hope to figure out what I can do better to include them,” he said. “For some reason, they (didn’t) feel like my campaign (met) their needs, and I need to meet everyone’s needs, so that’s going to be another thing I’m keeping in mind.”

During the campaign, Wolf had stressed the need for input from different student voices, emphasizing that Peterman’s experience was limited to ASG.

Whether or not Peterman and McIntosh will be able to represent the diverse student body of Mt. Hood remains to be seen, but the duo expressed optimism.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’re totally accepting of this new challenge, and we look forward to a great school year,” McIntosh said. “We look forward to the new changes that are going to be coming.”

Peterman agreed, noting the effort required ahead. “I’m nervous, I’m very excited. I know it’s going to be hard (getting everything done), (it’s) definitely hard to go around campus and really do what I’m saying, but I’m ambitious about it,” he said. “I think it’s possible.”

Asked what MHCC students could do to help him achieve that vision, Peterman’s answer was emphatic: “Be involved!” he said.