It’s election time, Wildcats! Voting begins for the 2026-27 school year this week! In the running are the following ASB Offices: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Student Representative to the Board.
ASB stands for the Associated Student Body. These officers play a vital role in Ukiah High’s student-led operations, such as collaborating with Principal Dr. Alvarez on school-wide events, rallies, and most famously, spirit weeks.
The Ukiah High News Team spoke with candidates about their motives for running, their future goals, plans if they win, and the impact they hope to have on UHS.
Elijah Cohen, a Junior at Ukiah High, is running for ASB President. He stated, “I think I can offer the school a steady voice of leadership in a time where there is a lot of change being implemented.”
Cohen told the News Team his goals for next year are to “protect student voice in the planning process for next school year, and to expand the role of ASB on campus.”
Cohen believes that people should vote for him because “ I have over four years of leadership expertise as a class president and commissioner.” He continued, “I also lead in clubs on campus, giving me the ability to represent a wide variety of students.”
The impact he wants to have on the school is “one that’s remembered for the expansion of student satisfaction in the leadership program, and protecting student-driven activities like sports and Homecoming.”
Junior Gwendolyn Johnson is running for ASB Vice President. She expressed, “I want to help maintain organization in the school, and help support the student body and clubs on campus.”
Her goals and plans for next year are “to be able to support all my peers and clubs, and create the events we want and allow them to take place.”
Johnson told the UHS News Team that people should vote for her because “I really value organization and clarity, and I really want to make an impact on the student body and help the school achieve what it wants to.”
She concluded with the kind of impact she wants to have at UHS: “I want to help with clubs and Clubs days, and be able to interact with the student body.” She continued, “I want to help all of the clubs on campus have a voice and be able to have an impact on the school as well.”
Running for ASB Secretary is Junior Amaya Upchurch. She told UHS News that she has wanted to be a part of ASB since the start of her high school career. Upchurch further expressed, “I enjoy knowing who’s planning things, and I enjoy getting to be involved in a bunch of different activities that I wouldn’t get to be involved with otherwise.”
Upchurch also shared, “I really want to encourage people to run next year…because it’s way more achievable than you think.”
The main goal Upchurch aspires to achieve as Secretary is “To speak with the student body and then speak with the president and see how we can reconcile what the student body wants and what the president, vice-president, and the administration want.”
When asked about why Wildcats should vote for her, she explained, “I think that I have a history of excellence,” alluding to her current experience as the Publicity and Communications Commissioner. She continued, “And I think that if people give their earnest best at doing things, it often produces results.”
Upchurch elaborated on her goals and the impact she wants to have on the school. “I want to reach out to people that don’t feel like their voices have historically been heard in ASB and make them realize that the entire reason we’re all running for office is to make their voices heard.”
Current ASB treasurer Junior Victoria Martinez has decided to run again, and here’s why: “I care about representing students and making sure their ideas are considered in ASB decisions.” Martinez continued, “As Treasurer and an ASB representative, I see how important it is to connect with different clubs, activities, and students across the school.”
Regarding her goals and plans, Martinez told UHS News, “My goal is to improve how smoothly things run and make sure students feel included and heard.” She highlights that she wants to use her past experiences to create events and activities around UHS in a more organized manner and make events more connected to Wildcats here at Ukiah High.
Martinez voices her thoughts on why Wildcats should vote for her this election: “I am committed to making ASB organized and effective, and I want to strengthen our school community by ensuring students’ ideas are heard.”
To conclude, Martinez emphasized, “I want to help make our school a place where students feel included, supported, and excited to participate. I hope to create an environment where everyone feels connected and included.”
Sophomore Emma Rodrigue is also in the race for ASB Treasurer. She shared, “I want to run for this position because I enjoy working with numbers and planning. I am organized and detail-oriented.”
She continued, “I am also looking to have a bigger role in student leadership and overall school involvement, so I can help contribute positively.”
Rodrigue laid out her platform: “ My goal is to ensure that all student funds are taken care of and are used in ways to benefit everyone at our school. I plan to keep organized records, help budget for events effectively, and work closely with the other ASB officers and student leaders to make sure that we are making responsible financial decisions.”
On why people should vote for her, Rodrigue said: “I am organized, responsible, and committed to doing the job well. I will make sure money is managed carefully and fairly, and I will take initiative to make sure our funds are used in the best way possible to improve our school.”
She finished by sharing her desired impact. “I would like to have a positive impact on the school by making sure that all events and activities are well-managed from a financial standpoint. I also want all students to be able to know that the funds at this school are being used to benefit the entire student body and make their experiences at school better.”
For ASB Representative to the Board, we have Junior Gigi Sikkila, who has decided to run because she wants to help create a “direct line of communication and impact between our school, the school board, and Ukiah Unified families.” Sikkila continued, “Being a part of ASB as a whole can open up new opportunities and insight into what needs to be accomplished to make our school a welcoming, safe, and structured environment.”
Sikkila provided UHS News with insight into her goals, which are to further her leadership skills, highlight a strong initiative, prioritize teamwork, and become a pillar of what Ukiah’s community is built on. Sikkila stated, “I wish to see our school in its best light for my senior year and for years to come, and I believe I could play a crucial role in that.”
In response to the question of why students should vote for Gigi Sikkila, she shares, “I care about other people’s opinions and always strive to factor in different viewpoints into my decisions. Alongside this, I see a positive future for Ukiah High, and I don’t plan on giving up on any ideas or solutions that can be possibly made.”
Lastly, Sikkila describes the impact she wants to have on Wildcats and Ukiah High: “I believe that I can make an impact on shedding light to all of the different resources we have at Ukiah High, and creating a more inclusive and fun environment. School may feel intimidating or boring to some, and I wish to highlight its positive aspects and encourage my peers to participate, learn, and get excited about their education.”
Another person running for ASB Representative to the Board is Sophomore Kaci Maynard. She is running because “public speaking is something that I am comfortable with, and I feel confident in reporting the information needed to the school board to help our school be successful.”
She told UHS News her goals and plans are, “To be an attentive listener to the daily life at Ukiah High, and successfully relay that experience to the school board.”
Maynard wants students to vote for her because “I have already spoken in front of the board numerous times, so it is something that I feel I can do efficiently. I am also an outspoken and outgoing person, and I know I can do a job thoroughly.”
She closed with, “I want to impact the school in a way where they feel supported, and have them know that their issues, or successes, will be thought of and cared about not only by me, but the school board as well.”
This year, the election process is a bit different! ASB is implementing a new approach to ensure that officers are not only representatives of the students but also fully understand their responsibilities while being well-prepared to take on this important role. Here’s a breakdown of this year’s election process:
Student Body Vote on Minga: Your voices matter most!
Leadership Interview: Candidates will participate in an interview to showcase their goals and readiness for the position.
Breakdown of Scoring: The final score will be determined by the Popular Vote (60%) and the Interview (40%).
The Ukiah High News Team sends its best wishes to all candidates as we begin election week. Good luck, Wildcats!
Starting today (4/13), you can cast your vote for next year’s ASB Officers! Voting will take place on Minga throughout this week. Choose the candidate you believe will best represent you, as they will serve as the voice for all Wildcats!
