Campaigning begins as 4 candidates vie for ASUW presidency

Four candidates take their first steps today on a two-week race for the ASUW presidency.

The candidacy of juniors Alex Bolton and Stephanie Simpson, and seniors Chris Trudeau and Danica You was announced Friday evening in the HUB. Since then, each candidate has been using the weekend to prepare for today, the first day of campaigning in this year's student elections.

But the signs and slogans that mark early May as campaign season at the UW will not proliferate yet. With the exception of some light flyer and leaflet distribution, and visits to houses within the fraternity system, the first day of campaigning on campus will be relatively quiet.

"I'm really actually excited. It's a bit overwhelming. This first week is going to be mainly a time to go out, and introduce myself to campus," said You, a member of the ASUW Board of Directors (BOD) who kicked off her campaign with a party Friday night after her candidacy was announced.

You, who is running on a ticket with lone vice presidential candidate and junior Will Rasmussen, said she used the weekend to aid campaigns for BOD candidates who approached her asking for help with their races.

While You has not discounted the idea of a running a full ticket with seven potential BOD members, she has not entirely embraced the notion either.

"I just don't feel comfortable with having a full slate of people. There's some people I'm very, very strongly in favor of, but as far as making [a ticket] official, I'm not sure I'm gonna do that," she said.

Bolton, a fellow BOD member, used the weekend to organize his campaign, focusing on preparation for the coming weeks.

"I think [the candidates] represent a very strong field, which is good to see. I want to put out my name a little more, go through the surveys," said Bolton, referring to a series of surveys presented to candidates from various registered student organizations.

Like his fellow BOD member, Bolton wants to use the first days of the campaign to acclimate himself to the student body.

He described his early campaign tactics as "just going to the groups, bringing up important issues, issues that applicable to the whole student body."

Most of the candidates said large-scale campaign action is expected to sweep the campus in the coming weeks.

"I'm gonna really wait and go full force next week," said Simpson, director of the ASUW Experimental College.

Simpson only filed for office at 2:30 p.m. on April 27, the last day to apply for presidential candidacy, after being told she had been denied a position as next year's student regent.

Her position as a student regent finalist may stir controversy within the ASUW and the Election's Advisory Committee (EAC), whose rules ostensibly preclude regent finalists from running for the ASUW presidency.

"I expect some people will argue whether or not I should really run, So going into it I'm just trying to keep a positive frame of mind," she said.

Simpson also acknowledged that her position as regent finalist might haunt her throughout the campaign.

"I am sure by the end of this, most people on campus will know my name. I'm not going to make myself look bad, but to withdraw -- that's my decision," said Simpson.

Trudeau, a relative new comer to ASUW politics, is hopeful that his position as an outsider to everyday ASUW politics will be an asset to his campaign.

"In the past, the general consensus is that the ASUW has very little power, there's very little they can get done, and I'm not coming from that legacy," he said.

Trudeau is pushing a platform of increasing on-campus activities, such as concerts, and increasing student interest in student government, a concept that pushed him into running for president.

"The main thing motivating me in this election is that very few students are involved in this student government. Very few people know what takes place. If the student government is being the voice of the students, more students should know what's going on," he said.