Unopposed hopefuls take things easy

As some candidates prepare for a rigorous 2005 student election, two hopefuls are focusing on their platforms instead of worrying about competition.

Mike Brady, candidate for Graduate and Professional Student Federation president, and Chasity Wilson, candidate for Residence Hall Association president, both are running uncontested this spring.

Brady, who is the current vice president for external affairs of GPSF, said he is using the energy he would focus on competition for planning. A husband and computer science graduate student, Brady said he knows all about planning and managing his time.

“This will require more time than anything I’ve ever had to do before,” he said. “I’m going to have to be very careful about it, but my friends and family and myself included are all very excited.”

Wilson, current national communications coordinator on the RHA executive board, said she primarily is focused on making sure people know who she is.

“Right now, I’m just getting up my Web site and handing out my platform so that people know I am running and so that they know what I’m working on,” she said. “I also just want to remind people to vote in general because that’s the most important thing.”

Brady said he is a little disappointed that he doesn’t have any competition.

“Ultimately, I want to do what’s best for the GPSF, and part of that is having the best candidate be in the presidency,” he said. “If that’s not me, I’m perfectly OK with that, but right now, students don’t have that choice.”

Colin Scott, current RHA president, ran unopposed last year after losing the race the previous year. He said his second campaign took the opportunity to have a little bit of fun.

“Since we didn’t have to contend with opposition, we were able to have more fun with the campaign,” he said. “We created a Web site, put some videos together, trying to give the students something else to look at and explore.”

Current GPSF President Jen Bushman said she put a lot of time and effort into her campaign, even though she ran uncontested last year.

“There’s definitely less pressure,” she said. “But I worked hard on generating a useful, progressive platform, getting my face out, my name out and my platform out so that people would know I was dedicated to the job and that I would do a good job.”

Bushman added that the role of GPSF president is a giant job. She said students from outside the organization often don’t want to run because of the responsibilities and duties that come with the position.

She said she thinks the best thing an uncontested candidate can do is act as if there is someone else eyeing the position.

“It doesn’t make sense to make a platform on just what you and your friends want to change,” she said.

“You can make a more realistic platform by talking to so many other people. Act like you are still running against someone and really sell yourself to the students so that they feel like they’re really getting a quality leader.”

 

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.