Pedro Ramirez, a 21-year-old double major in political science and agricultural economics, was elected student body president for 2010-11 at California State University, Fresno in Associate Students Inc. voting over three days.

During his campaign, Ramirez told the Collegian, the campus newspaper, that improving communications between ASI and the students was his principal goal, promising upgrades to the ASI Web site and moving ASI meeting times so more students could attend.

Ramirez will succeed Jessica Sweeten as ASI president.

Cesar Sanchez, a business administration and economics major, was elected finance vice president during the online balloting that began Tuesday, March 23. Nine at-large Senate seats also were filled and six of eight Senate positions representing specific schools or colleges.

The ASI executive vice president, the other top student officer, is chosen by senate members from among themselves at their first meeting in June.

Nearly 9.5 percent of the 18,850 students eligible to vote — 1,784 individuals — ballots, compared to 2009’s 5.2 percent (1,069 or 20,427 eligible).

The results will be certified 21 days after the election (April 16), and those elected will be sworn in June 1.

The Fresno chapter of the League of Women Voters, which has assisted at the polls in past years, tallied the results after polls closed Thursday, March 25. Election commissioners Tara Tattersall and Natalie Douglas announced the results Friday, March 26.

Winning at-large senator positions are Oscar Perez, Alicia Orozco, Selena Farnesi, Alejandro Vidal, Paige Laliberte, Sarah McConahey, Cory McPhetridge, Lauren Smoot and Rebekah Arredondo.

Senators elected to represent specific units are Valerie Taylor, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology; Natalie Bachicha, College of Arts and Humanities; Erica Sanchez, College of Health and Human Services; Mat Todd, Lyles College of Engineering; Steven Chabolla, College of Science and Mathematics; and Patrick Simon, College of Social Sciences. There were no candidates for the Craig School of Business and the Kremen School of Education and Human Development.

There were four candidates for president. Ramirez polled 652 votes (38 percent) to 370 for Cole Rojewski, 21, a political science major; 351 for Alexandra Andreotti, 20, business administration; and 311 for Cody Madsen, 20, anthropology.

View results at www.BulldogBlog.net. For more information, contact Tara Powers, director of University Affairs for ASI, at 559.278.2656.