For most students, stress levels will decline after finals. But for students running in the Student Senate spring elections, the stress of running a campaign is just beginning. Student Senate presidential and vice presidential hopefuls are gearing up for next semester’s elections and several Student Senate coalitions have announced their nominees for president and vice president.

United Students nominated Mason Heilman, Lawrence junior and Student Executive Committee chairman, for president, and May Davis, Clay Center junior and student senator, for vice president. A new coalition called Envision will be led by presidential candidate J.J. Siler, Overland Park junior and chairman of the academic services board, and vice presidential candidate Alex Porte, Great Falls, Va., senior and Senate treasurer. Adam Wood, Lawrence senior and student senator, will run for the second time as the presidential candidate for Students of Liberty. Wood said he had not yet selected a vice presidential candidate, but expects to announce his pick next semester in March.

United Students

United Students, the incumbent coalition, will face new competition this year. Heilman and Davis were nominated and have both been involved in Senate since their freshman years at the University. Heilman said he loved the University and Student Senate, so running for student body president seemed like the logical next step.

“One of the main roles is advocating for students at KU because they have such a large voice in student governance,” he said. “It takes someone who knows the system and knows the people involved in it and can hit the ground running.”

Envision

Siler said Envision is made up of students who were formerly involved in United Students and former coalition ConnectKU, which is not running this year. Siler said the coalition would create a partnership of the best individuals from varying perspectives.

“To serve the student body, you have to have a partnership,” he said. “We want to get the best people in a single coalition and go out and do the most good for the most people.”

Envision’s main focus is to involve students who have not participated in Senate before and to increase voter turnout. The coalition, which is composed of about 30 students, will center its campaign on outreaches next semester in order to engage the student body in what Siler said was its most direct form of government.

“We’re trying to position ourselves to be the biggest competition to the incumbent party, United Students,” he said.

Students of Liberty

Wood, who has lead the third-party coalition for the last few years, decided to run again as presidential candidate. Wood said he had not yet selected a vice president for the coalition but that he would pick someone who could carry the coalition on after he graduates next year.

“I’m looking more at long term than short term,” he said. “Last year was our establishing year, this year is where we solidify our presence on campus.”

Wood said the coalition would maintain a few of its major platforms such as green energy and fiscal responsibility. He said he expected Students for Liberty to do better this year in voter turnout. Last year, it had 305 votes compared to United Students’ 2,005 votes and ConnectKU’s 1,805 votes. But, Wood said, getting elected isn’t everything.

“I don’t have the same ideas as other coalitions about who is a good candidate,” he said. “I’m not worried about who can win, who looks best, who can speak the best or who knows the most people. I’m worried about someone who is vocal, active, passionate and who is really honest. I’m going to pick someone who has those qualities.”

— Edited by Kelsey Hayes