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Run-off concludes with new student president |
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Monday, 07 April 2008 |
 SGA candidates David Mofford (l), Kendra Johnson, Thomas Brigman and Paul Leak participates in a debate Thursday in the Belk Library & Information Commons for the run-off election. Photo by Shanel Boston
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by ANNE BAKER
News Reporter
The 2008-09 Student Government Association presidential and vice-presidential election finally came to a close when the results were announced Friday morning.
David Mofford and Kendra M. Johnson were declared the winners of the run-off election after receiving the majority of the vote with 56 percent and 1,043 total votes.
Mofford is a junior political science major and Johnson is a junior social work major.
Opponents Thomas Brigman and Paul Leak took 43 percent, with 817 total votes.
SGA Elections Board Chair John B. Bradley said voter turnout did increase in the run-off by about 500
people.
There were 1,860 students who voted in the run-off compared to the 1,366 votes cast in last week’s
general election.
Johnson said voter turnout might have intensified because the election became much more
competitive after a run-off was needed to decide the outcome.
“In the run-off, the candidates were questioned about issues more in depth and we had to take a
stance,” she said.
Mofford said what set the Mofford-Johnson ticket apart from the rest was their platform containing new
ideas and plans that hadn’t been implemented before.
Johnson said it was also important for their ticket to be personable with students and let people know
their input was welcome.
Mofford said one of the first things on his agenda is to hold a meeting with Forrest Gilliam, current SGA
president, and begin preliminary work on campaign goals.
He said he plans to stay in Boone over the summer and will spend much of the break in the SGA office
preparing for the upcoming school year.
Johnson said one of the first issues she wants to take on is creating a strategy for recruiting senators
who are willing to work hard.
While she will be in Uganda part of the summer, she plans to spend a large portion of the break working
in the SGA office as well, she said.
Presidential candidate Brigman said if he returns to SGA it will be as a senator, but he will most likely
not take an SGA cabinet position.
“Hopefully the new administration will take some of our ideas and use them,” vice presidential
candidate Leak said.
Mofford and Johnson said they would like to thank everyone who supported their ticket throughout the
long election; for those who did not support their campaign, they welcome any ideas.
“We would be honored if our opponents would work with us,” Mofford said.
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