Ten new students outside of ASUA have decided to run for student government positions.

Dan Suh, Associated Students of the University of Arizona elections commissioner, said although non-ASUA students have run in the past, this year's figure is unusually high.

"A benefit to the deadline extension is that we reached a diversity of students," Suh said. "Our goal is definitely to have a diverse candidate pool."

There are 11 new candidates for the senate position. Sara Birnbaum, an ASUA senator, has decided to run for executive vice president.

Of the 12 students at the ASUA new candidate

meeting last night, 10 did not have prior ASUA experience. They said they had wanted to run before they found out about the extension, but they never received information about the elections.

Fernando Ascencio, a pre-business junior, said he planned to run for senator last semester but did not know about the original Jan. 28 candidate packet deadline.

"I think there was not enough communication between ASUA and the general student body," Ascencio said. "I heard about the extension through the Wildcat."

Suh said the lack of communication was his fault, as there was not enough advertising.

"I failed to plan ahead," Suh said. "There should have been more buffer time between winter break and the deadline."

But by extending the candidate packet deadline, the elections have attracted a crop of new faces to ASUA who are confident they can run successful campaigns.

"I have enough leadership experience in my background, such as Phi Alpha Delta program chair, that I can be effective," said Cody Ortmann, a political science and sociology senior.

Matt Carr, a pre-business sophomore, said he was planning on running next year, but decided he is ready to be a student leader.

"I have feasible ideas and plans that I think students should hear," Carr said.

Suh said the lack of ASUA experience is not a detriment.

"What we wanted were candidates that were well-informed and knew what they were getting themselves into," he said.

The new candidates are just as qualified as the old candidates, Suh said. In addition, this year's candidates provide an accurate depiction of the student body because more minority candidates have applied.

Although the new candidates are slightly behind in campaigning time, Ascencio, a senatorial candidate, said that would not hurt their chances of winning.

"It's not a contest about doing it first; it's about doing it best," he said.

Patrick Brennan, a marketing senior, said he does not feel behind in campaigning because he has not yet seen much campaigning on campus.

In order to bring attention to the upcoming ASUA elections and to encourage students to vote, ASUA will be giving out free Eegee's every Wednesday at the Park Student Union and on the UA Mall, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There will also be a candidate debate Feb. 18 at noon on the stage between the Second Street parking garage and the Student Union Memorial Center.

Steven Eddy, a geography senior, said once the new candidates begin campaigning, there will be more interest on campus.

"It's all about getting the ball rolling and making some progress," he said.

The ASUA primary elections will be held Feb. 25 and 26, followed by general elections March 3 and 4.