Anna Grace Tremblay-Cox: Mayoral Candidate interview

Duncan: It's great to have you. 

Anna Grace: Good to be here. 

Duncan: I'm glad, I'm glad. So you are running for mayor? 

Anna Grace: Yes, I am going to.

Duncan: So obviously the big question– big issue rather that is really in focus. This election is with the boarding community, kind of the new rules that have been imposed, their reaction to those rules. And you know, what the future mayor might be able to do to kind of, you know, help get them, get them back to a place where they feel, you know, well represented and happy. So in that vein, what do you feel is more important: protecting boarders’ freedom or encouraging their engagement in the broader Indian Springs community? 

Anna Grace: I think protecting their freedom also will impact how they're doing in the community, which will then impact how they impact people as well. So I think protecting our freedoms is important, which is why I'm already talking with Mr. Schamberger about actually opening the doors earlier, which I have already made some progress for sure. Potentially it will be open at 3:00, most likely. And I know that’s only 20 minutes, but that's 20 minutes early. 

Duncan: Yeah, it's better. It's progress. That's great. So you've actually already met with Mr. Schamberger? 

Anna Grace: Yeah, I’ve already made contact.

Duncan: I will say, I can't speak for, Alexandra because I haven't interviewed her yet, but of all the other candidates I've spoken to, you are the only one who's actually had a sit down meeting. So that’s great, that’s good to hear. So just kind of what they always cite is the reason for these changes—kind of on the note of engagement with community—is because they feel there's a social gap between the day students and the boarding community, so do you feel that there is a gap, and if so, do you think that gap needs to be closed? Is it an issue of utmost importance?

Anna Grace: I think there is a gap, but also some of my best friends are boarders. I think that changing that gap is important. So that's why I want to implement that screen on green again, which was a fun activity where we will watch a movie on the green. So it's important together, which I think is important. I often think that it is more comfortable in that environment if you're at home for the year. 

Duncan: Yeah, I completely agree that you want to feel, you know, somewhere safe, but movies on the green, that would be nice. Engel terrace. That sounds very nice. Okay. Do you think that kind of shifting gears a little. But still, on the note of student rights, do you think that the current administration effectively upholds the rights allowed to students in the Indian Springs Constitution? 

Anna Grace: I do think there are places where they fall short, and I think that is a good way where we can improve communication with them. Is there a divide in communication between faculty and the students? I think having a good debate with them would be a good idea and would get us more progress. I've already sat with Schamberger and so I want this to be fun; engaging. 

Duncan: That sounds really good. And, that reminds me of Ibrahim Hamo’s idea for the debates. He was really pushing that in student government. We never quite got it rolling, but I would love to see that. But yeah, I see your point. Cooperation with the administration. You know, you kind of… what’s a good way to put it? I like what you're saying about, you know, more effective communication.

Anna Grace: I think if we work with them that’s better than working against them.

Duncan: Okay, great. I might quote you on that.

Anna Grace: Thank you. 

Duncan: Okay, so, last of the general questions: How do you feel about the amount of power that student government has? Would you, as mayor, expand it, keep it the same, restructure or even, you know, constrict it? 

Anna Grace: I think that while we do have some power, it's not exactly what's put in our Constitution, which I think is why having more discussions with the faculty is important so that we can build our community. Because the community includes our faculty and staff. So without that communication between all levels, we're not actually a community. So while I think that we have the power, we don't have as much as the Constitution wants us to have. So I think we should expand that more through those conversations and through that we can then get what we want.

Duncan: Yeah, I like that a lot. Okay, so kind of specific to you– Some people have expressed concern that you have not held a commissionership. Obviously, you were a class rep, you've been a deputy for various commissioners, but some people have worried about not having a commissionership affecting how you will act as a mayor. What would you say to that? 

Anna Grace: Honestly, I think that while that is a valid concern, I think there are a lot of people in those positions that don't follow through on their plans. So sometimes that experience is not even valuable. So when I was class rep those times, I completed everything and I had on my platform, even adding things that now you can use like study guides. So I think that while that's valid concern, I also have fresh ideas like the things on my background that no one else had, such as my Springs Supports program, which will connect students with alumni in their desired field or major so they can get working on their future plans. 

Duncan: I like that a lot. That would be very helpful to me, as journalism is almost all connections nowadays. So also in your platform you mentioned publishing notes from student government meetings and I have heard some other candidates talk—namely Charles—about just kind of increasing transparency. So why is transparency important to you? 

Anna Grace: Well, when I was in eighth grade, I didn't really know anything about government. So looking back on that while running for mayor, I really– Making my platform I reflected on my past and all the grades I've been in. I thought I didn't really know what was happening in student government. It seems like it's a black box, and no one really knows what’s happening. Yeah, but not really what happened. So that's why I want to improve that communication. So that you know what's happening, how your rights are being advocated for and what changes we're making. And then also, I feel like that will decrease anxiety for running with commissionerships and get more engagement .

Duncan: Well, those were very good, you know, succinct answers. That’s all I have.

Anna Grace: Thank you very much.

Duncan: Of course, have a great day.