Nobody said life was a bed of roses, especially not for leaders in the Government of the Student Body.

GSB President-Elect Rob Wiese and Vice President-Elect Matt McLaren got a taste last week of what it could be like working with next year’s Senate.

Wiese and McLaren have started interviewing for next year’s cabinet members and have already chosen a candidate for finance director and chief of staff. But not everyone’s happy with the nominee for finance director, Jeremy Williams, a junior in computer engineering.

Several senators have expressed concern about the nominee, who they say is not as qualified as the current finance director, Todd Swanson. Swanson, who finished second to Wiese in last month’s GSB presidential election, has applied to get his job back next year.

John Hamilton, business, said he thinks the choice for director of finance is “preposterous.”

“The only reason I could say it has happened is because someone had promised someone the position,” Hamilton said. “Todd Swanson has done a fantastic job the past year.”

Hamilton said Wiese and McLaren should have chosen Swanson and until that happens “… if I can do anything to stop the process I will.”

The Senate must approve all cabinet appointments.

Last Friday, Hamilton, along with Mark Nimmer, off-campus, reportedly voiced these concerns to Wiese and McLaren.

Both Wiese and McLaren said they will stand by Williams.

“We’re not officially vice president and president of GSB and they’re already playing games,” Wiese said.

He said his criteria for the finance director position was someone who had experience outside of GSB. “I don’t want anyone in there whose whole life is GSB,” he said.

Wiese also said it is frustrating having a senator tell him who can and cannot fill a position on his cabinet.

Hamilton maintains it is his job as a senator to make sure the best person is chosen for the job. “It is our job as the Senate to approve and disapprove appointments so things like this don’t happen,” Hamilton said.

Though Williams has been chosen, Hamilton said he and Nimmer are fairly certain they have the power to influence the Senate to make sure the nomination is not approved.

“I don’t know for sure, but I’m pretty sure that we can swing the Senate,” he said.

Wiese said senators should vote according to their constituents, not the beliefs of other senators.

“The senators who supposedly Nimmer [and Hamilton] control have to realize they’re not there to represent Nimmer [and Hamilton]; they’re there to represent the students,” Wiese said.

McLaren said Hamilton and Nimmer’s opposition wasn’t a total surprise. “I expected some people to try and block some of the things we’re trying to accomplish,” McLaren said.

Senate disputes with the GSB president over cabinet nominations are becoming an annual occurrence.

GSB President Adam Gold said he faced the same problem last year when he received opposition of his first choice for finance director, a position that carries with it a full-tuition stipend and $350 per month for room and board.

Gold said he understands what Wiese and McLaren are going through, but he doesn’t agree with their choice for finance director, either. “I don’t think they made a good choice considering the applicants, and I don’t see how anyone could do a better job than Swanson,” Gold said. Gold said Wiese will have future problems with the Senate if he tries to appoint Williams.

“It looks like Rob Wiese’s administration is starting off just like Adam Gold’s,” added Hamilton, a veteran senator.