The SGA spring elections results were announced Tuesday, Feb. 19 via callouts on Cater lawn. The new vice president, treasurer and Miss Auburn were announced, and a run-off was announced for SGA president.
The vice president-elect is Amy Anne Olsen. Other candidates for vice president were Wesley Clendinen and Cody Sanders.
Amy Anne ran, and won.
Amy Anne Olsen, junior in finance, was named the 2013 vice president of SGA Tuesday, Feb. 19 at callouts on Cater Lawn. Olsen received 3978 votes, or 48.57 percent.
“It was a total surprise,” Olsen said. “I wasn’t prepared for that. I’m so blessed and thankful to have won.”
Olsen, who has three years of SGA experience under her belt, names expanding collegiate reading programs, improving late night transportation and making sure students’ money is being effectively used as plans for her term in office.
“It’s been unbelievable,” she said. “This has been such a fun week and it’s all thanks to my supporters and everybody that came out, wore by T-shirt and cheered me on. I’m so excited to serve this year, to serve senate and to serve the student body. I couldn’t be happier. My opponents are both great guys, so it was such a fun week and I’m proud of both of them.”
Opponent Wesley Clendinen, junior in animal science, placed second with 2565 votes, or 31.31 percent.
“The student body voted and they elected the individual they thought was the most qualified for the position,” Clendinen said. “That’s the reason we have democratic elections. Any candidate who did not win today should see this opportunity as a way to expand and expel upon their beliefs and move on and change the campus in a way that they may not have thought they would before.”
Cody Sanders, junior in political science, followed Clendinen with 1647 votes, or 20.1 percent.
“I’m very proud of the campaign that we ran, it was a great experience,” Sanders said.
The treasurer-elect is Will McManus. The other candidate for treasurer was Wilson Yeilding.
The treasurer voters have spoken, and in his own words they said “DOLLA DOLLA WILL Y’ALL.”
Will McManus, an Alabama native and a junior in political science and economics was elected as SGA Treasurer Tuesday, Feb. 19.
He defeated his lone opponent, Wilson Yeilding by a vote count of 5048-2992.
After the results were tallied there was nothing but joy in the faces McManus and his supporters.
“I feel great,” McManus said. “God is good, it’s been a great week. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my top five and everyone who voted for me. War Eagle and dolla’ dolla’ Will y’all.”
McManus’s opponent, Wilson Yeilding, a Birmingham native and junior in exercise science ran a close race, but was nudged at the end.
“It’s all good,” Yeilding said. “He ran a great campaign and good for him. The people got who they wanted. That’s about all I can say.”
McManus, of course, had nothing but good things to say of his opponent and the campaign he ran.
“Wilson’s a great guy,” McManus said. “It was a fun race and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to run against such a gracious and respectful opponent.”
McManus’s platform says that his campaign is not about political tricks or gimmicks, but that he has a belief in experience, transparency and a desire for seriousness.
His main goal is to move the budget-planning period from the fall semester to the spring, and to use successful methods he used in the UPS into the SGA treasury.
The new Miss Auburn will be Tara Jones. Other Miss Auburn candidates were Emily Jordan, Katie Kuhn, Kate Hughes and Andrea Howard.
Tara Jones’ hard work paid off and was elected Miss Auburn 2013 after raising over $7,500, for the water crisis, during campaign week alone.
“It doesn’t feel real, this is so amazing,” Jones said.
Jones hopes to continue the work her campaign began this week.
“I want to get the whole university behind the platform of the water crisis and get the university on board and make our university one of the leading voices in stopping the water crisis,” Jones said.
Kate Hughes, one of the other Miss Auburn candidates will still support Jones.
“I worked with them a little on the water purifier, so I will definitely help her with her campaign,” Hughes said.
Andrea Howard, another Miss Auburn candidate, also said she is supportive of Jones.
“She is not only Miss Auburn, she is a War Eagle Girl now, so we’ve all got her back,” Howard said.
Jones found support in her friends, family and faith.
“The Lord can provide exceedingly more than you can ever dream or hope,” Jones said.—
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