After a three-day voting process, the Undergraduate Student Government announced April 13, that junior Mike Orth was re-elected council president after winning 92 percent of the votes and running unopposed. 

After stepping into the presidential role last semester, Orth said it was something he thoroughly enjoyed doing and is excited to continue his position as the council’s leader next year.

“I want to make sure everyone on the council participates, everyone shares their ideas, they all work on some initiatives. That’s the biggest thing for me, so that they really put all the effort into achieving everything they possibly can,” Orth said.

Two other executive board positions also ran without competition. Sophomore Jenna Johnson was re-elected executive vice president while junior Collin Kearney was re-elected vice president of administrative affairs.

Johnson said about 900 people voted in the election this year compared with last year’s turnout of about 1,245. Johnson attributed the lower turnout to the three unopposed executive positions.

“There were three of the [executive] board positions that were unopposed this year, and so that’s kind of why there was a difference from last year,” Johnson said. “Last year was one of the higher voter turnouts we’ve ever had, and this year, we’re actually pretty pleased with it.”

Three class president positions were also named Friday. Sara Greethurst was elected as next year’s senior class’ first female class president by capturing 45 percent of the vote. Junior Joe Stoll followed Greethurst with 39 percent of the vote while junior Richard Shallbetter received 15 percent.

Greethurst said she was elated upon hearing the news of her election and already has plans for next year’s senior class.

“I hope to stretch my budget as much as possible… and build a better relationship with our community by maybe doing a senior gift to our community,” Greethurst said.

Sophomore Sean Ness, USG’s former elections and credentials chair, was voted junior class president in another close race. Ness was elected with 56 percent of the vote while competitor Anne Mackin totaled 44 percent.

Freshman Paul Juhasz was elected to fill the elections and credentials chair position.

In the sophomore class president race, freshman Louis Sand was elected to the position after serving as USG’s freshman class president for the spring 2012 semester. Sand won 53 percent of the votes.

The freshman class president position will be elected in the fall, along with the two freshman class senators, commuter senator, transfer senator and legislative affairs positions.

In the coming weeks, USG will hold interviews for the vice president of financial affairs because it is an appointed position.

Though three executive board positions ran unopposed, the race for vice president of public relations was in high demand with three candidates contending for the job. Megan Matheny won the race.

Johnson said she saw a lot of campaigning this year, something that may have contributed to the number of close races.

“I was really proud. There was a lot of good campaigning, stickers being passed out, chalking on the sidewalks,” Johnson said.

Other positions that were filled:

Vice President of Academic Affairs: Jess Root

Neighborhood Senator (WASNAC): Derrek VanLith

Neighborhood Senator: (Merriam Park): Anthony Gockowski

Residential Senator: Wade Fuerste

Senior Class Senator: Gabriel Kendor

Senior Class Senator: Michael Mortenson

Junior Class Senator: Hayley Trace

Junior Class Senator: Joe Feely

Sophomore Class Senator: Katzie Truso

Sophomore Class Senator: Beth Wittry

Briggs LeSavage can be reached at lesa4364@stthomas.edu.