District 8 Alder candidates Bryon Eagon and Mark Woulf will continue their respective campaigns after winning the primary election Tuesday night.
In a district that is 98 percent students, an unofficial vote count totaled 528. Eagon took 263 votes and Woulf landed 117, beating out candidates Katrina Flores, with 110, and Jacob Schmidt, with 38.
Eagon and Woulf, both 20 years old, are UW-Madison students. Eagon lists downtown and campus safety as his top priority. Eagon also represents students on ASM Student Council and holds leadership positions in the student group Students for Barack Obama.
After it was announced he would move on, Eagon thanked his supporters. I definitely appreciate the support of students and look forward to continuing to talk with them over the next few weeks as the campaign moves forward,"" Eagon said.
Woulf focuses on issues related to alcohol and student safety. He has served as a representative on the Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force and has argued for greater redistribution of police forces on the streets, rather than patrolling for house parties.
District 8 residents were able to vote at Memorial Union, Memorial Library, Gordon Commons or Porchlight Tuesday. Adam Young, chief inspector at Gordon Commons, where the majority of voters cast their ballots, said voter turnout was low. At 2:30 p.m., only 110 people had voted, compared to 2500 in the November presidential elections.
Young said low turnout was unfortunate because each vote carries more weight in smaller elections.""I would feel terrible if someone won or lost an election by one vote and I didn't vote,"" Young said. ""But a lot of people don't think it's important. That's the honest truth.""
Young also said citizens have more direct communication with city officials. ""If you've got a problem with the city of Madison, you can call and speak to your elected official,"" Young said. ""You can't do that with President Obama.""
An election official since 1984, Young said low turnout is typical of alder elections but shouldn't be, especially because many issues directly involve students. ""A lot of students rent in private buildings, and there's always the drinking issue that comes up with students,"" Young said.
The spring election, which will be held on April 7, will determine whether Woulf or Eagon takes Eli Judge's position as District 8 Alder.
