(WITH VIDEO) – Clint Combs is the newly-elected president of the Student Government Association after winning Wednesday with 38 percent of the vote in a close three-way race.
Combs beat out Luke King, who had about 33 percent and Michael Mann, who had about 28 percent of the 1,485 votes cast over two days.
Combs’ running mate Nathan Payne won the vice presidential election with 44 percent of the votes, defeating Chantry Carroll (23 percent), Kendrick Settler (26 percent) and Robert Gomez (7 percent).
“Nathan and I – we campaigned together, and we did the best that we could,” Combs said. “There’s nothing I would’ve changed about that. But I am so grateful to Murray State for believing in us. We’ve got a lot of great ideas for the SGA. It’s been in great hands the past several years and I’m just excited to keep that momentum going forward.”
Rachel Ross, who ran unopposed, was elected the SGA treasurer. Heather Raley claimed 58 percent of the votes for secretary as she defeated Jamie Nuckolls.
The results were announced Wednesday night in Winslow Dining Hall – a popular area for students to gather.
Jeanie Morgan, adviser for SGA, said Winslow typically has between 800 and 1,000 students visit the during the weekly wild wing Wednesday late night hours.
Winslow was a new venue for SGA election announcements. The election results used to be announced in the Quad during All Campus Sing in mid-April, but SGA moved the election up this year.“There’s not enough time to transition,” Morgan said about the earlier election date. “You have to elected a judicial board, senate chairs and we have to have our activities board selected. You can’t get it all done in one week.”
Morgan said all other Kentucky public schools, and now Murray State, hold their student government elections before Spring Break.
Michael Dobbs, SGA president for 2014-15, said the elections this year were a success.
“I think all of the candidates we had we very, very well qualified,” Dobbs said. “I’m not just saying that, I truly believe that.”
FULL RESULTS:
President
Clint Combs
Vice President
Nathan Payne
Secretary
Heather Raley
Treasurer
Rachel Ross
Residential College
Association President
Paula Jaco
Residential College
Association Vice President
Chris Wright
Senator At-Large
Patrick Hooks
Connor Jaschen
Christian Barnes
Carter Hearne
Dylan Baker
Emily Baker
Jaclyn Whoberry
Jordan Maberry
Business Senators
Mounika Nalluri
Amie Jones
Taylor Futrell
Education and Human
Services Senator
Tanelle Smith
Humanities and Fine Arts Senators
Chynnique Ross
David Crittendon
Science, Engineering and Technology Senators
Vislias Ankatha
Clayton Sparks
Anh Ngo
Agriculture Senators
Connor Moore
Hunter Easterling
Leah Cline
Nursing and Health Professions Senators
Paige Buckner
Becca Spraggs
Story by Mary Bradley, Editor-in-Chief
