Election season is upon the student body and, as books closed, Student Government contenders officially announced their candidacies yesterday.

While only two or three candidates filed for most positions, the student body president race will have seven students competing for the title.

Student Body President

Josh Weeks, Andre Iriarte and Glenn Moraven joined Adam Compton, Kate Luckadoo, Mitch Danforth and Bobby Mills in the race for presidency.

Josh Weeks, a junior in mechanical engineering, said he is running because his goals are realistic and achievable.

“The plans that I want to do and the ideas that I have are things that will benefit every student,” he said.

Weeks said he is choosing objectives that he can actually make a difference with, as opposed to promising students unattainable changes.

Candidate Andre Iriarte, a junior in sport management, said he wants to focus on later Wolfline bus schedules, better dining hall options, improving club sports and reducing textbook prices.

He said he plans to make a name for himself to increase his chances of winning the election.

“[I want to] just go out there and talk to people,” he said.

Candidate Glenn Moraven, a junior in communication, said he wants to bring a more wide-ranging feel to the student body president position.

He said he wants to connect to people who aren’t usually considered.

“I connect with students at a wide variety that many people can’t reach,” he said.

Moraven said he wants to target the entire student body in his campaign and make sure students receive only the facts concerning his plans for change.

Student Senate President

Two juniors are running for Student Senate president. While one said he focuses on his experience in Senate, the other said he sees his recent distance from Senate as an advantage.

James Hankins, a political science major, is Student Senate pro tempore. He said he has the experience the Student Senate president position requires.

“I’ve seen the times when Senate is good and I’ve seen the times when Senate is horrible,” he said.

According to Hankins, he plans to win votes through advertising and communication.

“I just plan to work hard and talk with people,” he said.

Jon Chichwak, also a political science major, said although he hasn’t served on Senate for a few years, this distance provides him with an advantage.

“[The detachment] kind of gives me a unique perspective on the affairs of the Senate and how to run things,” he said.

Chichwak said he wants to fight for students and make sure the student body knows exactly what is going on in the Senate chambers so that they can give feedback.

“[I’m] focusing on advocacy and transparency in the senate,” he said.

Student Body Treasurer

Two senators are competing for the position of student body treasurer.

Scott Lassiter, a freshman in political science, is a senator for at-large first-years. He said he has the experience needed to fill the treasurer position.

He said he worked on the appropriations committee this year, and through the collaboration of the committee members and the current student body treasurer, Adam Compton, appropriations were finished faster than ever.

Lassiter said his appropriations experience will guide him through a term as student body treasurer.

“I can promise the student body one thing, I will always work tirelessly for them and I’ll always be just a phone call or e-mail away,” he said.

According to Lassiter, he plans to campaign traditionally with sandwich board advertisements and connecting to as many students as possible.

“I’m just going to go out there and campaign as hard as I possibly can,” he said.

David Foxx, a junior in political science, is a senator for Lifelong Education. He said he has experience serving the executive branch.

He said he has also served on Senate and the budget committee.

“I think I have the largest breadth of experience,” he said.

Foxx said he plans to run a clean campaign and reach as many people as possible.

“[I am going to] talk to the student body, and if they think I’m the best candidate, then I’ll win,” he said.

Student Chief Justice

The current student chief justice and a member of the judicial board make up the race.

Lock Whiteside, a senior in political science, is student chief justice. He said he has the experience the position requires.

He said he also wants to continue changing the burden of proof.

“I think we’ve got the momentum to make the change,” he said.

According to Whiteside, he plans to talk to as many people as he can and to avoid underestimating his opponent, Chris Gilmore.

“I’m taking a grassroots approach,” he said.

Chris Gilmore, a junior in political science, is a member of the judicial board. He said he is the best choice for the position because he has served on the judicial board since his first semester as a freshman and has witnessed the breakdown of the board.

“I feel that I will be able to lead the board in the correct direction,” Gilmore said.

Gilmore said he plans to win the race for student chief justice by showing students how unqualified his opponent, Lock Whiteside, is.

Also, he wants to point out the downfalls of the current judicial reform the judicial board is pushing for.

Student Center President

Two business management majors are running for president of the student center.

Garrett Dimond, a sophomore, said he wants to focus on what the student body wants out of the student centers instead of leaving the decisions up to the administration or a select group of students.

“I want the input to come directly though the student body,” he said.

Dimond said he plans to go out to various organizations and find out what they want to create his platform.

Diana Douglas, a senior, said her main goal is to make sure students’ voices are heard.

She said her last three years at N.C. State will help her accomplish this task because it has allowed her to get to know people.

Douglas said she also plans to use her connections with students to help her campaign.

“I’m really just going to promote through word of mouth,” she said.

According to Douglas, she also wants to increase promotion for the student centers and make more students aware of it.