Results of the Dec. 7 runoff election placed Sarah Shaw in the final at-large seat for the Student Senate. Shaw received 55 votes to Keith Darby’s 29 votes.

Shaw, of the Student United Party, and Darby, of the United Party of Students, tied for the eighth and final at-large senate seat with 115 votes in the Dec. 3 regular election.

While voter turnout for the regular election was down from 399 votes in 2006 to 387 during this December’s election, both Shaw and Darby were disappointed in the mere 88 votes in the runoff election.

“A few people I know were disappointed in the results, and we believe that more students should show up to vote because these positions are very competitive,” Darby said. “I was hoping to have at least 100 voters for the runoff election, but unfortunately, that did not occur.”

Both candidates admit they used Facebook groups to gain support for the runoff election.

“It wasn’t a great (turnout),” Shaw said. “It was more of who you knew and getting them to vote. Our party got behind me to get another win and support our name. It was pretty much a team effort, just as if the whole party was running again.”

Darby said utilizing his party wasn’t important and the situation should give him leverage to become appointed by the Speaker of the Senate. He said he applied for appointment at least three times already.

“I’ve applied for appointment for about two years, but the Speaker (of the Senate) had some tough decisions on who to appoint, and unfortunately I have not been appointed so far,” Darby said.

Shaw looks forward to getting her new committee assignment and continuing her work from before the election. Darby will again attempt to become a student senator.

“A lot of current senators have encouraged me to apply for appointment even though I lost the run-off election,” Darby said.

Shaw was running for reelection after completing her first term on the senate.

During her year in office Shaw said she worked on the Student Relations Committee and was Chairwoman of the Academic Affairs Committee.

“I think there are a few people who would rather have Keith be on (the senate), but I think once we get started with things again it won’t really matter,” Shaw said.

Shaw said the SUP campaign was a party campaign more than individual platforms. Darby had a tuition and fee platform that he ran with.

“One of my primary goals for the second semester of Student Government was to inform students on and off campus about the tuition and fee increases,” Darby said. “(Part of that) primary goal was to get feedback from large organizations, like the Residence Hall Association, about fee increases. That type of feedback is vital for the Student Senate when the bills come.”

The agenda for this Wednesday’s student senate meeting has not been released yet. Agendas are written and released by the Speaker of the Senate every Monday.

Rick Kambic can be reached at 581-7942 or at rwkambic@eiu.edu.