Eickel runs off to presidency
Election over after extra week for run-offs
By Dominic Desmond, news editor
Posted on April 10, 2006

It’s over — at least the campaigning and elections, that is.

“I feel relieved,” said junior and former presidential hopeful Ryan Powell. “It gets pretty tiring.”

Both sophomore Brandon Eickel and Powell were given another week to campaign due to a draw during the March 30 election. Eickel, who garnered about 40 percent of the vote, slightly led Powell by only a few points up until this past Thursday. Eickel even predicted there would be a run-off.

“It was actually a blessing in disguise,” Eickel said. “My eyes were opened to other concerns from campaigning an extra week.”

The extra week did not come without its upsets.

Early Thursday, the Elections Commission issued Eickel’s campaign a citation for posting campaign materials in an unsanctioned area. Eickel said it was due to a simple communication problem. At issue was a poster that hung in the reference area of the Carrier Library.

According to an Elections Commission statement, Eickel was found responsible for the illegal posting and was reprimanded by the commission. Eickel could not campaign before polls closed Thursday, which according to the statement was five hours.

Eickel’s sanctions were, however, lessened later that day and stipulated that he not be allowed to campaign on the commons.

Co-chair of the Elections Commission, Matt Winer, said there were some students who were upset about the reversal.

Powell said he’s not bitter about the situation but can’t help but feel bummed.

“I’m not going to appeal it,” he said. “This could make people aware of the process.”
Despite being reprimanded, Eickel carried the election.

“It’s a big relief,” said Eickel. “I can move forward with my platform.”

“I want to be an accountable representative,” Eickel said. “But with a small time frame of one year, there will be challenges in accomplishing points on my platform.”

Both candidates believed campaigning was as taxing personally as it was financially.

“I missed some classes to meet with students,” Eickel said.

Powell worked since school resumed in January.
           
During his term, Eickel wants to propose campaign finance legislation that would allow candidates to make products like T-shirts and sell them to raise campaign funds. Currently, candidates must use family donations and personal money.

Getting the campus motivated was another obstacle for both Powell and Eickel. Powell believes if people understood more about what SGA can do for students and the school in general, they would be more inclined to become involved. He urged the SGA to work on its appearance.

Junior music major Paul Forrester feels indifferent about the whole thing.

“It’s like in high school — ‘Man we’re gonna put a jukebox in the cafeteria if you vote for me,’” Forrester said laughing. “I didn’t think anything was relevant to my interests or needs.”

He also felt the whole process was nerve-racking.

“I couldn’t walk more than a hundred feet without anyone hassling me on Thursday,” he said.

Though only a sophomore, which he says was an additional hurdle, Eickel nonetheless feels confident about next year.

“There’s so much I’d like to accomplish,” Eickel said. “But again, I only have one year. I have an umbrella platform.”

Both candidates held a variety of offices in the past. Powell has been involved with SGA for three years and would not say if he would continue next year.

“I’ll have to take a step back and see how my senior year goes,” Powell said.

Along with being a senator since 2004, Eickel held both freshman and sophomore class president seats. He said he’s learned a lot through his career and campaign.

“I’ve met a lot of students,” he said. “I can recognize people now. That was the greatest thing about it all.”

Eickel and Powell have not ruled out seeking higher political offices after graduation.

“I don’t think I’m tall enough to be president,” Powell said, “but maybe a congressman or senator.”

Eickel said he’s always joked about the idea of running for president. “It’s a possibility, but there’s a lot of drama in American politics,” he said.

Eickel thinks he would feel more comfortable being a president in an academic community like JMU.