ASUA candidates find race demanding

Ian C. Meyer Arizona Daily Wildcat During yesterday's primary election, some students, like junior Lee Eddings, needed a little more coaxing than others to get out and vote. Mark Rooney (left), one of Senate candidate Aaron Young's campaign managers, chooses to employ one of the more unique methods of getting students to a polling place: rock, paper, scissors. Voting in the primaries continues today.

Thirty-four candidates for ASUA president, executive vice president, administrative vice president and 10 Senate seats are finishing the first leg of campaigning with the primary election yesterday and today.

Administrative vice presidential candidate Tara Taylor, political science sophomore, said she has been meeting with program and service directors and researching the position as part of her campaign tasks.

"I think the most important thing has been talking to all the (program) directors and getting to know what their input and feedback is and what can be improved for next year," Taylor said.

Senate candidate Aaron Young, biochemistry sophomore, said he, his campaign manager and volunteers have aided him in various arenas to get the campaign on its feet.

"I had a sign-up sheet for friends of mine to come out and take time-slots so they could hand out (campaign) literature," Young said. "Winning an election is a lot about name recognition and issues."

Young also said his volunteers helped reserve campaign tables on the University of Arizona Mall and helped in other areas behind the scenes.

Running for office also comes with its fair share of anxieties.

"When (a volunteer) drops the ball, that's definitely frustrating," Young said. "Also a lack of sleep. Your stress level is high and even when you lay down to go to sleep, you're stressed out about other things you have to do."

Taylor said her biggest frustration is student apathy.

"You hand people (campaign material) and they don't even know why you're doing it," Taylor said. "I just want people to be aware of what's available."

But campaigning is not all stress and frustration - it also has its exhilarating moments.

Political science junior Mark Marrero, a campaign volunteer for ASUA President Rhonda Wilson's re-election campaign, said his responsibilities have included speaking with Wilson's constituents and handing out campaign material.

He said that helping Wilson, an accounting and finance senior, and becoming involved with the competition has been fun.

"I think it is better than the actual position," Marrero said. "It's a competition thing - a good healthy atmosphere."

Young said he enjoys the public speaking aspect of the campaign the most.

"I've learned to like it," he said. "Sometimes I'm speaking to 60 to 100 people. I just say what I need to say and try to be clear and concise,"

Taylor said campaigning for the office has educated her about the position and the needs of the campus.

"I've learned so much about the campus, about how things can be improved and about the great things that we have to offer here that we need to make more accessible to students," Taylor said.