Yale Daily News

This reads like Minh is only just now realizing that this seat matters for non-Yalies. Perhaps we should elect someone who actually gets that?

This reads like Minh is running for another student council position. The importance of this election is as a municipal election, nothing less, and one that therefore holds value for Yalies as residents of New Haven. We are those who call New Haven home. Perhaps we should elect someone who gets that too.

I've been undecided so far, but after reading this I'm in Tran's camp for now. As a student I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with a sophomore running for the position, but usually we don't have a senior running who's willing to commit to staying in New Haven and has made specific (and very ambitious) commitments about what he's going to do to involve students. That seems pretty ideal to me, especially with all of Tran's experience with groups on campus.

To #1 above: Come on, that's just silly. Just because Tran uses a recent example to illustrate how the seat can matter for non-Yalies doesn't mean he only recently realized that it matters. But let's also be honest about the fact that Ward One aldermen are usually only around for two years and aren't going to become a legislative force on the Board in that amount of time; what they can do is connect students to the city and to local politics, and it seems like Tran has a much more specific plan for doing that than we've heard from any of the other candidates at this point.

I would argue that the entire a point about the piece is that the alderman is not a student council position-- it has real responsibilities that affect the lives of a lot of people.

And It looks to me like he's the only candidate who's actually invested in the city during his time here.

i know Minh, so I'll put that out there to take as you will.

I do think it makes sense for someone who has already been at Yale (and involved in New Haven) for four years and is committing to staying in New Haven for another two to be an alderman. How many other people at Yale are willing to show that much dedication to this community? How many have been willing to spend their three summers (which are great opportunities to explore the world) in New Haven? Will Mike or Katie be sticking around after they graduate?

Perhaps that last question was unfair, but I think Minh's experience and his staying in New Haven as a non-student adds substantial credibility to his candidacy. He has already proved with his actions that he is dedicated to this community - both Yale and New Haven - and I hope other Ward 1 members will give this some serious thought before voting.

#5 makes some good points. minh has been an incredible servant during his time at yale, and it certainly does make sense for someone who is committed to being in New Haven for a while to be an alderman.

but isn't there something unique about the ward 1 seat that requires a current undergraduate to hold it? minh is a great guy who has done a lot of great things in New Haven, but is this the right opportunity for him? or better yet, for the students who live in the ward?

i hope that the candidates devote some time to answering these questions over the course of the campaign.