ASUO Executive elects Adam Walsh and Kyla Coy took in less than half the campaign contributions opponents Ashley Rees and Jael Anker-Lagos received during this year’s elections, according to financial paperwork filed by the candidates.
The Walsh and Rees tickets pulled in combined donations of about $2,390, about 31 percent less than top contenders Ben Strawn and Adam Petkun received last year. The candidates spent about $2,031, also about one-third less than expenditures by last year’s candidates.
Winners Walsh and Coy solicited and spent about $726, according to the records.
Walsh and Coy each contributed about $238 to their campaign, composing about 66 percent of their campaign’s income. Ardemis Walsh contributed $250.
Election rules prohibit contributions larger than $500 from any one person or group.
Walsh said the small environment for a campus election makes publicity “a lot easier to come by.”
“Really I think it goes to show that in such a closed-off environment, money isn’t necessarily going to be the decision maker,” he said.
He also said monetary contributions aren’t as important in ASUO races because of low voter turnout.
“The kids that are going to be voting, … most of them are going to take it upon themselves to learn about the candidates and who they’re going to vote for,” he said. “Unlike larger elections where turnout is seen as your civic duty, here it’s really if you’re
interested, if you want to take the time to check it out.”
He added that he wants to motivate students to become more involved next year.
Walsh said he and Coy began planning and saving as early as December to prepare for their Executive bid.
Rees and Anker-Lagos gathered $1,664 in monetary contributions, spending $1,305 with a surplus of about $359.
Contributions from Rees and Anker-Lagos made up about 11 percent of their income. Rees contributed $175, while Anker-Lagos did not contribute.
The ticket received major contributions from family members. Roberto Anker gave $500, Sara Beth Rees gave $350, Pat Rees gave $320 and Natalia Anker-Lagos gave $100. Friend Sara Berger contributed $120.
Rees and Anker-Lagos said they spent the majority of their funds
on T-shirts and on copying fliers
and posters.
Rees said money can help a campaign gain visibility, but it won’t help a campaign that doesn’t engage students.
“You can’t say that you need to have money to have an effective campaign,” she said. “We spent our money on visibility and we’re happy with the amount of visibility we had in the campaign.”
Although election rules don’t specify when the ticket must return unused funds, past candidates have been encouraged to repay excess money within two weeks, Election Board Coordinator Kelly Cheeseman said.

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