Jason Sandidge had his eye on the prestigious student speaker of the senate seat since running against his older brother Isaac for the position in December.

Though the race for a place at the head of the executive table was nothing new to him, Jason Sandidge, a junior sociology major, said he found Wednesday’s election more nerve-wracking than ever. Jason Sandidge was pitted against opponents Alex Boyd and Tommy Nierman, who announced his interest in

serving after being nominated at the meeting.

Used to competing against his brother, Jason Sandidge described his most recent election as intense when he ultimately tied Nierman with 10 votes apiece, removing Boyd from the running and requiring a runoff vote.

“I’m still kind of in disbelief,” Sandidge said. “It’s an honor to be voted among my colleagues. This is the only position I’ve ever wanted to shoot for.”

Formerly acting as the senate parliamentarian, a role that held him responsible for ensuring senate observance of parliamentary procedure during meetings, Sandidge immediately assumed the seat to his right, formerly filled by his brother, and led the senate in a period of announcements preceding adjournment.

He told senate members of his goal to set his personal ambitions aside in the effort to assist each committee toward achieving one project they wish to adopt and see through to the finish.

Sandidge said this goal extends to affect his plans for executing a “Last Night” celebration for the campus that he and the university development and recycling committee were unable to host this year due to time constraints.

However, he did say that he hopes to make the endeavor a side project for each committee to contribute their efforts so as to accomplish a larger task in less time on the new senate.

“Something I’ll do differently is, there were a lot of times last semester when I spoke when I shouldn’t have,” Sandidge said.

“There’s a saying that ‘a great senator only speaks when they have something to say.'”

As such, he said he wishes to remain impartial to senate proceedings and party lines, as well as conduct a more in-depth research of senate procedures.

As for the UDR committee, which he chaired for the past two semesters, Sandidge said he has no doubts that new senate members will step up and keep the group going strong.

Though Sandidge will officially begin his term this fall, he said he will waste no time in preparing for the semester ahead by organizing plans this summer.

His first orders of business will be disseminating applications for committee chair positions and creating a contact list for new and returning senators.

Sandidge said he looks forward to getting a head start on the semester by communicating ideas and expectations to his constituents, some of who will be studying abroad in Europe, and working to eliminate what he described as an awkward transitional phase into the organization for new members.

As a result, he said he plans to continue the senate mentorship program resurrected this semester by his brother, who said he intended to provide an effective means of developing new leaders.

During his time on the senate working beside his brother, Jason Sandidge said he gathered invaluable insight into the inner workings of the body and expressed gratitude for the advice he said Isaac Sandidge was

consistently happy to provide.

“He offered me advice the entire year, even when I was running against him,” Jason Sandidge said. “He told me exactly how the job goes, but there’s still a lot more I’ll need to prepare for.”

In the meantime, Sandidge said he wants to thank his constituents both on and outside student government for granting him the opportunity to serve.

Erica Whelan can be reached at 581-7942 or elwhelan@eiu.edu