Two UW-Madison students have announced their decision to run for the District 8 alder position on Madison's Common Council.
Juniors Bryon Eagon and Jacob Schmidt announced their campaigns a week after the current District 8 alder, UW-Madison senior Eli Judge, said he would not be running for re-election.
I decided to run because students need a pragmatic and progressive voice to advocate their issues on the city level,"" Eagon said. ""The experiences I've had working on campus and with the Obama campaign bring an experience and a knowledge of how to listen to students' concerns and issues.""
Schmidt said he chose to run because he could ""provide the 8th District with strong, determined representation rooted in the district's student concern.""
""I have an ever present desire to brighten people's day and improve our great city, state and nation,"" he said.
Schmidt's campaign platforms include tenant rights, snow removal, the downtown residential light initiative, social justice and economic growth. He plans to work on the issues students find most important and the concerns of local businesses.
The main focus of Eagon's campaign will be on student safety around the campus community, particularly centering on strategic lighting, neighborhood watch and police programs.
Both candidates plan to follow Judge's example.
""His passion and dedication for students is something I'll definitely strive for,"" Eagon said. ""He was very accessible to students and receptive to their ideas.""
Schmidt hopes to follow Judge's ability to be nonpartisan and focus on the student issues.
Both candidates are gaining student support in their own ways. Eagon made a YouTube video announcing his campaign.
""I think the video was a way to use contemporary media to sort of reach people in a unique way,"" Eagan said. ""[The] constituency is so dominantly students, using the medium we are used to and use everyday was a strategy to reach more people.""
Schmidt has a Facebook group that provides viewers with the goals and plans of his campaign.
Eagon and Schmidt are currently the only two candidates running for the District 8 alder position, as previous candidate Michael Johnson has decided to exit the race due to family reasons.
