Mateusz Miadlikowski and Will Pigott are running for the role of VP finance, a position that manages the funds of the Alma Mater Society and coordinates the society's budget and businesses.
Pigott is currently the VP student engagement for CUS and hopes to bring his background as a Sauder accounting major to the position. He is trying to tackle the negative image that UBC students have of Sauder students by showing that he cares about UBC students.
Pigott also said that because Sauder represents a smaller population of UBC, he realizes that he must campaign harder to increase his presence.
Miadlikowski is the current VP finance and has decided to put his energy into his AMS work and academics rather than campaigning. He hopes to finish some of the projects that he has begun over his year in office like the establishment of the new software to manage reimbursement of the AMS clubs.
Miadlikowski believes that the change in circumstances affecting the AMS next year with the new SUB will require a more experienced VP finance.
Pigott hopes to reform the position, placing an emphasis on communication with students and AMS businesses as well as his open door policy of being easily accessible and available.
“If we get over the fact that I can’t beat [Miadlikowski] in the experience, I think I can do a much better job in being open with the students being efficient with the job and maintaining a flow of information,” said Pigott.
Calling himself a fiscal conservative, Pigott criticizes the risks taken by the current administration. Pigott hopes to bring in a system that prioritizes the value that students receive from their funds.
Miadlikowski believes that these criticisms do not take into account what has been done within this year’s circumstances. He brought up statistics of a $300,000 surplus despite unforeseen economic losses of revenue from AMS businesses. He believes that the results he has shown in the past year show fiscal responsibility from the AMS.
“Last year I was campaigning with ‘Change, Change’ but you get into office and realize, ‘this is going to be hard,’” said Miadlikowski.
He hopes to continue in his position, sharing the experience he gained over the last year with students.
Still, both candidates have similar ideas about how the AMS finances should run. With the changes for AMS businesses and the completion of the AMS Nest, the VP finance will need to adapt to a changing role.