De Anza College students will elect a new DASB senate and student trustee for the 2013-2014 school year starting May 12.

There are currently three pairs of candidates running for DASB president and vice-president, 53 candidates running for senators and two students running for student trustee.

In order to be elected, candidates must receive at least 20 percent of the total votes.

Han Wu, 19, accounting major, is running as an independent candidate, meaning he is not affiliated with any coalition.

If elected, he plans on working with the Diversity and Events Committee.

“That is the community in which you can go out and meet students,” Wu said.

Wu also said he would like to connect students with businesses through job fairs hosted at De Anza, similar to those at San Jose State University.

The goal is to expose talented individuals from our school to businesses.

“I’d like to give talented individuals from our school to people who are looking for talent,” Wu said.

DASB President Koosha Seyvani said he would like to see the same exceptional interactive relationships in next year’s senate.

Although candidates will be running in different coalitions, Seyvani said it’s important for students to treat each other with respect and to avoid forming factions within the DASB senate and while they are running for election.

Avoiding factions ensures that senators will be able to work together effectively during the term.

“All candidates should advertise the elections and everyone in their coalition at the same time,” Seyvani said.  “Not just themselves.

“We want a strong body of senators.”

Zhiwei Ng, 22, accounting major, is also running independently.

“Being independent gets things done more efficiently,” Ng said.

He plans on joining the Administration Committee and is interested in working to achieve gender equality in programs such as computer science on campus.

Mia Hernandez, 20, who is running for DASB President, is part of the “Empower” coalition.

Hernandez hopes having three pairs of candidates for president and vice-president will increase voter turnout instead of splitting the voter percentages, which can result in extending the elections if no one manages to receive 20 percent of the votes.

According to Hernandez, having a diverse student body can strengthen the senate

“If we work together and make your voice be heard, change can happen,” Hernandez said.

Candidates will start campaigning around campus on May 4 and students can get to know DASB Senate candidates during the Meet your Candidates Event on May 7 at 12:30 p.m.

Election week starts on May 12 and students will be able to vote through MyPortal.