Associated Student Government presidential candidates Michael Blake and Mike Fong said they are ready for today’s runoff election, although they will both head into the race without the backing of eliminated candidates Tamara Kagel and Nafis Ahmed.
In addition to the presidential race, ASG’s runoff elections will pit Adam Forsyth against the no confidence option for student services vice president. Prajwal Ciryam and the no confidence choice both received more votes than Dan Broadwell in the initial race for academic vice president, and Ciryam also will run against no confidence today.
Students can vote for ASG president, academic vice president and student services vice president between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. from a link on HereAndNow.
If students cast more votes for the no confidence option than an official candidate, the new ASG Executive Board will appoint someone to the position through an application process.
Write-ins candidates are not an option in this race.
Blake led Tuesday’s race with 28.1 percent of the vote; Fong garnered 20.8 percent. The two other candidates on the ballot, Ahmed and Kagel, were eliminated in Tuesday’s vote.
Kagel, who missed the runoff by only 10 votes, said she has chosen to not back either candidate because she feels it creates doubt in the abilities of the remaining candidates.
“I think they’re both qualified, I think both of them will do a good job and, regardless of who wins, I (would) like to think I still have some advice left for the AVP,” said Kagel, a Communication junior. “I don’t want to jeopardize any relationships with next year’s Exec Board.”
Kagel, the outgoing AVP, said she plans to stay involved with ASG, but she isn’t sure “if that translates into a position.”
Ahmed also said he does not want to rank one presidential candidate over the other, because both Blake and Fong have strengths that will make them good leaders.
“You can’t go wrong with voting ‘Mike’ in this election,” said Ahmed, a Communication sophomore.
Blake spent his day meeting and greeting students in person. He said it’s fair that Ahmed and Kagel chose not to endorse.
“It just means that it’s just Mike and myself, and you don’t have outside forces affecting things,” said Blake, a Medill junior.
Making phone calls to supporters and introducing himself to students consumed most of Fong’s post-election day. Fong also said he respects the eliminated candidates’ decision.
Although Fong didn’t receive backing from his previous opponents, Ciryam, the only academic vice presidential candidate left after Tuesday’s vote, has put his support behind Fong. Both agreed to campaign for each other while telling voters about their own platforms, Ciryam said.
“I think at this point Prajwal is the best candidate for the job,” Fong said. “I think Mr. (No) Confidence in all his glory fails to encapsulate the vivacity of Prajwal Ciryam.”
Ciryam received 45.7 percent of Tuesday’s vote, shy of the 50 percent needed to seal his victory. However, Broadwell — Ciryam’s main opponent for AVP — was eliminated after failing to receive more votes than the no confidence option.
Although he’s out, Broadwell said he won’t support Ciryam’s campaign for personal reasons.
“I have one vote, just like everyone else does,” said Broadwell, a Weinberg freshman. “It’s my policy not to endorse any candidate.”
Student services vice president candidate Adam Forsyth could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but he said Tuesday night that he plans to continue campaigning “strongly” for the position. He received 41.5 percent of Tuesday’s vote — just 3-1/2 percent more than the no confidence option.
Election results should be posted on a HereAndNow link late tonight.
