The Daily Delegate

By Jayden Weisblum
Elections Desk Reporter

The Daily Delegate sat down with the Secretary of State candidates to conduct an interview. This interview took place on Saturday, February 17th at 2:30 pm. The candidates running for Secretary of State are Eli Hamid from the Palisades-Malibu Delegation, and Brianna Alagaba from Gardena-Carson Delegation. 

Q: What made you want to run for Secretary of State?

Brianna: It started when I went to the officer retreat in August and I was talking with Lizzie [Vargas] and Itzak [Salazar] and they were planning on running and it inspired me to run too. I started thinking about it over the next few weeks and I realized that there were areas of this program that I felt like I could change for the better. 

Eli: It started last year at Sac when I saw Matty G up on stage. He was powerful and he got his message across. Everybody was supporting him. I thought he had a lot of good ideas and I just wanted to make sure that I can give him a “second” term and incorporate his ideas to make sure that everything runs smoothly

Q: What’s your go to In-n-Out order? 

Briana: Cheeseburger, no tomatoes, animal fries with 7UP.

Eli: Mine is lame because I keep kosher, so I can’t have the meat there. But I got a grilled cheese animal style, but I made sure to add pepperoncinis, which add the perfect amount of spice. 

Q: What is your experience with leadership?

Brianna: I was the 10th grade class representative last year. I’m the current secretary of my school’s Black Student Union. I’m the social event coordinator at my school’s Cultural Cuisine Club and vice president for my delegation. I’m also historian for my school’s UNICEF club and historian for the debate team. 

Eli: I am an ambassador at my high school. We give tours to prospective students and just make sure that they have a great atmosphere when they begin school. I’m also co-president of the Jewish Student Union at my school, which gives all the Jewish people a voice which is what I want to do here. I want to give everybody a voice, and make sure everybody knows that they matter, and their voice matters. I’m also involved with the Bianca Foundation at Pali, which is a student development and mental health club where we bring in psychiatrists and life teachers to help people find their voice.

Q: What’s your favorite callback? 

Brianna: SRV 

Eli: SPASM

Q: What do you do for fun?

Briana: I really like to bake. I especially love to bake brownies. I also love to read. My goal is to read like two books in a month. I also play softball at school. 

Eli: I play basketball. I’m on my school team and I’ve played all my life. I think it’s a great way to get out of the stress of school and everything else that’s going on. It’s like my mental break. Also, I would say recently my friends and I haven’t been playing a lot of FIFA. 

Q: Why do you think voting is important? 

Brianna: Voting is important because it gives us a voice. When you vote you’re like changing something like even when it’s something small at school. When You vote, You’re voting for change. One of the quickest ways to facilitate change voting helps you use their voice in a positive way. 

Eli: Voting is extremely important. It’s what separates us from a democracy and a dictatorship. It’s so important for people to have their own voice. That’s why we’re our own country. We wanted to vote. It really hits home with me because my parents came from another country where they were being oppressed and they didn’t have the chance to vote so that’s why they came to America, and it’s the reason why I’m here.