HTC Sen. Christopher Wagner Launches Write-in Campaign for President

By ANNA RUMER on 05/16/2011 11:05 pm / no comments

HTC Sen. Christopher Wagner

With just two days before students hit polls for the Student Senate election, a new presidential candidate has risen to the surface – and he’s been there before.

Junior Honors Tutorial College Sen. Christopher Wagner announced today that he is launching a write-in campaign for student senate president. Wagner, a second year senator, was the original presidential candidate for the RSVP party, but dropped out before the campaign began, giving way for its current candidate Kyle Triplett.

“I realized that some of the people were worried about the win; that’s all they cared about,” said Wagner. “I don’t think I had much to do with the current [RSVP] platform … I haven’t been involved since.”

Wagner cites a reason for his exit from the RSVP campaign as an ideological one. “I think that the quarters to semesters should have been a primary issue if not the primary issue,” he said.

He also wanted to highlight the budget deficit more than the current RSVP ticket. “I’m just concerned that the issues are only issues for a week. It’s still $9 million we’re losing,” he said.

Though Wagner’s write-in campaign is that of a self-described ”symbolic gesture” and comes without a specific platform, he hopes that it will bring the focus of the election back to the issues rather than on politics.

“[The election season] has just been one big negative campaign,” said Wagner. “I hit my breaking point with all of the negative campaigning; the whole campaign process has been about how the other party won’t be able to do anything.”

While Triplett and FACE presidential candidate Matthew Wallace were unaware of Wagner’s intentions, both had nothing but praise for Wagner.

“There’s no hard feelings at all, he’s a smart guy and very passionate,” said Triplett. “But, I would have liked to hear it from him first.”

Wallace agreed, and said that Wagner has a lot of experience and great credentials. He added that he would want to see him doing something “prominent” in the senate if Wallace himself is elected.

While both candidates support Wagner’s write-in campaign, they also acknowledge Wagner’s slim chances of winning.

Wallace and Triplett both agree that Wagner does not pose as much of a threat due to the nature of write-ins.

“I don’t consider him a serious threat just because he has 24 hours to campaign; by virtue of launching [the campaign] so late I think he really wants to a make a statement,” said Triplett.

However, Wagner isn’t writing himself off. “I’m a realist. I really don’t think I have that big of a chance, but I do have a chance,” he said. “If I’m elected, I’m more that ready to serve.”

Student Senate elections will be held May 18 and 19.