With Student Government Association elections just a day away, candidates for the four contested executive offices are making their final arguments for why they should be student leaders for the 2014-15 academic year. SGA president, vice president for student affairs, vice president for academic affairs and executive secretary each have two candidates running for the positions, while the candidates for vice president for external affairs, vice president for financial affairs and executive vice president are all running unopposed.

In the 2013 SGA elections, candidates for every position except for executive secretary ran unopposed. In 2012, when Advance UA, a group of five Greek students, ran independently from the Machine, every position except for executive secretary was contested, with some offices having as many as three candidates.

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With the pool of candidates wider than it was a year ago, the eight candidates in contested elections are each making an effort to differentiate themselves from their opponents and explain why they should be student leaders in the coming year.

The two candidates for SGA president, Hamilton Bloom and Justin Thompson, each came to The University of Alabama to study different subjects, but both said they knew the University was right for them when they set foot on campus.

Thompson is a junior majoring in public relations from Frankfort, Ky. When he attended Franklin County High School, Thompson was president of Young Republicans, vice president of Environmental Club and an editor for the yearbook and high school newsletter. When it came time to decide where to attend college, he narrowed his choices down to two schools.

“I was torn between South Carolina and Alabama for the longest time, but the moment I stepped on the campus in January of 2011, I knew this was the right way to go,” Thompson said.

Bloom is a junior from Montgomery, Ala., majoring in political science and history. Bloom competed with his high school’s speech and debate team and was involved with student government association, Youth in Government and the Spanish club. Bloom’s brother, sister and mother all attended The University of Alabama, and when Bloom was deciding where to attend college, he narrowed the field down to Alabama, Southern Methodist University and the University of Chicago.

“It kind of just came down to either SMU or Alabama, and I just realized Alabama was the place I needed to be,” Bloom said. “It really happened after I took a tour on campus. I think that’s kind of the way it is with a lot of people. You take the tour, and you’re hooked.”

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Each candidate had their first experiences with SGA in the senate. Thompson, who is also a founding father and founding vice president of Alpha Delta Phi, a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America, a member of the Public Relations Council of Alabama, a member of Honors College Assembly and, until last semester, a member of Capstone Agency, is currently a senator representing the College of Communication and Information Sciences.

Thompson said his experience in SGA Senate has not been what he expected, and a lack of transparency and meaningful legislation have made the SGA ineffective.

“It’s been really disappointing,” Thompson said. “I thought there was going to be so much done in the senate this year, and it was just a bunch of nothing.”

Bloom is a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and is active with Al’s Pals, which is coordinated by Bloom’s cousin, Star Bloom. Bloom unsuccessfully applied for First Year Council his freshman year but served as a senator his sophomore year. As a senator, Bloom served as chair of the student affairs committee. Bloom was elected unopposed as vice president for student affairs last year. Bloom said SGA does a good job serving students overall, but it should never be complacent in its primary mission.

“I wouldn’t say anything in particular was a failure or a shortcoming,” Bloom said. “What I would rather describe it as is, SGA can always strive to figure out what students want more and figure out more ways to help those students.”

Thompson said his organizational skills and drive suit him to the office of president. In preparing for his campaign, Thompson visited student government leaders from Clemson University, Fordham University and the University of South Carolina to see what practices have been successful for them and what might work at The University of Alabama.

“I’m approachable, and I feel like people feel like they’re at ease with me,” Thompson said. “They don’t feel like they’re intimidated, but they can still feel like I know how to lead them.”

Bloom said his ideas, knowledge of the SGA and experience as vice president for student affairs suit him for the position.

“I have the largest track record of experience of anyone who’s running for any position for any Student Government Association office right now,” Bloom said. “I had the largest cabinet, I carried out the most projects and initiatives, a lot of projects that I’m really proud of.”

Both candidates said they would make an effort to hold themselves accountable and stay in touch with the student body, going out regularly to meet with student groups and hear their concerns firsthand.

The SGA Presidential debate will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at the North Zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Besides president, the positions of vice president for academic affairs, vice president for student affairs and executive secretary are all contested. Laura Gregory, a junior majoring in political science and public relations, and Chris Simmons, a junior majoring in political science, are candidates for vice president for academic affairs.

Stephen Keller, a sophomore majoring in finance, economics and Spanish, and Elliot Spillers, a sophomore majoring in business management, are candidates for vice president for student affairs.

Khortlan Patterson, a sophomore majoring in religious studies, and Polly Rickets, a sophomore majoring in ecomomics and finance, are candidates for executive secretary.

Drew Bridges is running for vice president for external affairs, Andrew Gross is running for vice president for financial affairs, and Christopher Willis is running for executive vice president, all unopposed.

SGA elections will take place Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Log on to mybama.ua.edu to vote.

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