Rod Bridges and Madeleine Dear celebrate after Bridges won ASB president in front of the Lyceum at the University of Mississippi, March, Feb. 3, 2015. (DM Photo | Cady Herring)
ASB Attorney General Kelly Savage prepares to announce election results in front of the Lyceum at the University of Mississippi, March, Feb. 3, 2015. (DM Photo | Cady Herring)
John Brahan speaks with his campaigners in front of the Student Union while campaigning Tuesday. (DM Photo | Kayla Beatty)
The winners of the Associated Student Body officer elections were announced last night on the front steps of the Lyceum. Current Attorney General, Kelly Savage, read the names of the winning candidates.
Rod Bridges, who ran unopposed, was elected ASB president with 93.36 percent of the vote. He will hold the executive power of the ASB and be required to serve at least 40 hours a month toward student services.
Bridges said he is ready to assume his new position.
“I think in the past we’ve lost a connection with the student voice and hopefully through this year I can ask a student on campus come next May, ‘What did ASB do for you?’ and they’ll be able to tell me.”
John Brahan was elected ASB vice president with 55.38 percent of the vote.
Vice president serves as president of the senate and is required to serve at least 35 hours a month toward student services.
“I am very grateful and thankful. I thank God and everyone who supported me,” Brahan said. “I definitely could not have done this without several crucial people.”
Brahan said he does not feel that the cancellation of the debate last week impacted his campaign in any way, but would have liked to have one.
“The debate adds so much legitimacy to these races, and it is so important for us to have one,” he said.
One of Brahan’s plans for the upcoming year is to enforce monthly community service projects ASB officers will participate in together. He plans to alternate monthly meetings and community service projects regularly.
“We’ll actually get out, roll up our sleeves and make some impact,” Brahan said.
William Fisher was elected ASB judicial chair with 52.3 percent of the vote. The judicial chair is the head of the ASB and university judicial proceedings.
“I’m excited for who I’m going to be serving with,” Fisher said. “Let’s get this show on the road and try to implement more educational consequences.”
Mitchell Dowden, Fisher’s campaign manager, said the hardest part of the campaign process was the organization and time commitment.
“Starting this campaign with him and finishing with a ‘W’ is fantastic,” Dowden said.
Loden Walker was elected ASB attorney general with 57.03 percent of the vote. The attorney general is the head of the Department of Justice in the executive branch of ASB.
Walker said an overwhelming amount of support is what helped him win this campaign.
“I didn’t win anything, we did,” Walker said.
Kate Aspinwall, who also ran unopposed, was elected ASB treasurer with 97.26 percent of the vote.
Her duties will include preparing statements of funds and proposed budgets.
Kelly Killorin, campaign manager, and Aspinwall mutually decided to run a full campaign despite running unopposed. Aspinwall felt it was important to introduce herself to people and expose her platform before they voted.
One of Aspinwall’s goals is to include the Senate Appropriations Committee even more in the funding process. She said they are a “direct representation of the constituents and their wants.”
“I really do have a passion for student organizations on campus,”Aspinwall said.
Amy Hall, who ran unopposed, was elected ASB secretary with a voter turnout of 95.85 percent.
Hall’s duties will include preparing requests for budget expenses and maintaining and updating member files, catalogs and lists.
After the election results were released, Savage also announced that the Student Fee to Support Student/Student Organizations Initiatives and Programs passed with 72.63 percent.
