Juniors Thomas Edwards and Jasmin Jones nabbed the top two spots in the student body president election Tuesday and will now compete in a runoff election Feb. 17.
Edwards won 41 percent of the vote and Jones earned 21 percent in the election with the highest voter turnout in University history.
The results are contingent on final certification by the Board of Elections which will review the candidates' submitted financial statements by this afternoon.
A total of 8736 students cast ballots 17 percent more than in any other election. Since neither won a majority of the vote they will face each other again in a runoff for which they will receive an additional $100 in campaign money.
Edwards and Jones beat out the other four candidates: Ron Bilbao Michael Betts Ashley Klein and Matt Wohlford.
Edwards who produced the longest campaign platform and gathered the most signatures in the petition-gathering period said he's delighted to compete in the runoff" although he understands the challenges ahead.
""I'm just going to try to catch up on my sleep" he said. My campaign will probably take a day off" and then we'll be back out there in the Pit trying to get out the vote.""
When the Board of Elections announced that there would be a runoff"" Jones jumped in the air and began screaming along with her supporters in the audience.
Jones said she was thrilled to be allowed the chance to participate in the runoff and is excited for next week.
""We don't care about the vote disparity" we're just happy to be in the runoff she said.
Jones said she is also prepared for the challenge and ready to work hard over the next week of campaigning.
We're going to really have to rev up the team and come up with some new and creative ideas she said. She added that she might try to re-evaluate some of her platform points.
Edwards said he expected the race to end in a runoff and that his goal was to be one of the two left standing.
We were expecting it with six candidates running he said. That was our goal" to be in the runoff.""
But Edwards said that he had not expected to be one of the two in the runoff and that he was elated.
Edwards said he thinks students responded positively to the thoughtful preparation he put into his platform and extensive campaigning.
""I really think it's a good platform" he said. You know everyone knocks it for being long but it hits on all the points. It's not just student interests" it's everything that matters.""
Edwards said he will try to get the endorsements and support of the other candidates who did not advance to the runoff election.
""We've spent almost every night together over the last three weeks" and I've heard some great ideas" he said. They have great ideas for Carolina and we're going to try to get their support.""
Jones was overwhelmed with emotion and said she was appreciative of everyone's support.
""I want to thank everyone who got out and voted" even if wasn't for me" she said.
The Board of Elections announced the results of the race around 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
Board of Elections Chairman Ryan Morgan prefaced the announcement with a recognition of the hard work each campaign had put in.
Those not involved don't know how much work it is to run a campaign.""
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Face-off
Thomas Edwards and Jasmin Jones are the two left standing in the six-candidate race for student bodypresident. Because no one garnered a majority of the vote" the top two finishers will face off on Feb. 17.
