Dearmin triumphs in tight competition

A year after the most prolonged campus contest in memory, student elections ended without a hitch.

Seth Dearmin was elected the University’s next student body president Tuesday, winning 51.6 percent of the votes in a close runoff against Seke Ballard.

Dearmin received 2,602 of the 5,046 votes cast Tuesday after garnering 40 percent of the vote in the general election last week.

After hearing the results, Dearmin spent several minutes rejoicing with his supporters and taking phone calls from well-wishers.

“It’s just awesome,” he said, laughing and trying to come to terms with the announcement.

Ballard, who picked up an additional 542 votes since the general election — when he received 27 percent of the vote — said he believed that he did all he could to close the original 887-vote gap.

“I think it’s just that the student body president identified with one candidate more than

another,” he said.

Ballard said he is pleased with how he ran his campaign and said he wouldn’t have changed his tactics or strategies. “I think we did everything right,” he said. “Just because a candidate lost doesn’t mean he did something wrong.”

Dearmin said he anticipated a tight race and feared that a number of his supporters would be swayed not to vote because of the large margin he gained in the general election. He garnered 187 fewer votes in Tuesday’s runoff than in last week’s general election.

Voter activity went down since the general election, which brought out a record 7,046 students to vote for student body president. “It’s tough to get everyone to get out and vote again,” Dearmin said.

Adrian Johnston, Dearmin’s campaign manager, said he was not disheartened by the close margin but saw it is a testament to the strength of both candidates.

Because Ballard was supported by such a large percentage of student voters, Dearmin said he will consider incorporating some of his opponent’s platform points.

“He’s got some great ideas,” Dearmin said. “We’ll definitely take a look at his platform, and talk with him — see if he’ll be a part of student government next year.”

Some of Ballard’s campaign proposals include the reopening of campus computer labs and the establishment of a distinguished speaker series endowment.

Dearmin said his next step will be to begin setting up his administration and preparing for his April 5 inauguration. He also plans to open a dialogue with former student body presidents to ready himself for the upcoming task.

“Between here and there I’m going to have a lot of conversations with guys and girls that have been there before,” he said.

Dearmin said he already has his eyes set on several platform promises. “The biggest thing is this campus voting precinct,” he said, referring to his promise to establish UNC as a single voting precinct.

The N.C. General Assembly already is set to look at a bill this session that would change the way students are able to vote by allowing voters to cast a ballot at any polling place in the county through Election Day.

Dearmin said he will work to familiarize himself with the arguments so that he can continue support of the movement once in office.

Tuesday marked the end of a relatively uneventful contest, compared to last year’s hotly contentious election that lasted two additional weeks.

“I think the election went really well,” said Heather Sidden, chairwoman of the Board of Elections. “I think it’s a really good election when the board steps in or interferes as little as possible.”

The board found nine instances of campaign violations in all student races this season.

“I think it was a learning experience for us and for the candidates,” Sidden said.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.