Historically, Student Senate campaigns that raise the most money win the biggest on Election Day, and this year’s REACH ticket was no exception.
REACH won 86 percent of student votes while spending 32 times more than competing ticket yOU and independent presidential candidate Jared Henderson. Henderson, who didn’t raise any money, received just more than 100 votes.
“The general attitude was: ‘We need to win,’ ” said Zach George, REACH’s presidential candidate. “We know the trends. It takes money to brand yourself and to get your message out.”
In the previous four elections, the winning ticket has spent at least 50 percent more than its competitors. The majority of losing candidates said they would have fundraised differently if given another chance.
“We don’t regret how we did it. … But if I were to give advice to someone, I’d say put in a little more money,” said Tony Koehling, yOU’s presidential candidate. “I definitely knew, understood and was well aware of (the trends). We were just trying to beat (that precedent).”
Koehling stuck to his small budget during his campaign and said it better represented an Ohio University student’s spending.
Koehling’s largely Web-based campaign was similar to Henderson’s.
Difference in campaign budgets can largely separate candidates from one another, said 2010–11 Senate President Jesse Neader, who won on the SOUND ticket.
“Our spending wasn’t matched,” Neader said. “Had that been the case, we would’ve altered the budget a little. You plan for success. The more money, the better.”
Executive campaigns — which include president, vice president and treasurer — are allowed to raise a maximum of $1,500 plus $150 per non-executive candidate member. That money can be used for outreach efforts, which include banners and T-shirts.
An independent executive candidate’s campaign such as Henderson’s, meanwhile, can raise a maximum of $750.
“I think it’s unfortunate, but a lot of times the ticket who raised the most money is really a lot of the time better equipped to do outreach, whether it be tabling or going to different events. It costs money, unfortunately,” said Kyle Triplett, current senate president.
The majority of previous candidates as well as current chair of the Board of Elections Kate Steven agreed that they would support a decision to make the maximum allowed budget lower to even the playing field.
In order to make a rule change, senate would have to pass a resolution after considering the Board of Elections’ annual recommendations. This year’s recommendations included a shorter campaign season and clearer rules on how to put an additional issue on the ballot, Steven said.
Robert Leary, 2009–10 senate president, said that in order to win campaigns must have more than a big bank account.
“(A lot of money) reflects a prepared and organized ticket, and that’s what helps them win,” Leary said.
sj950610@ohiou.edu
Correction: REACH spent 32 times more than yOU, not 32 percent more than yOU.
