Student Government spring elections culminated Wednesday afternoon when Taylor Cox and Carrie Hebert of the Be Heard ticket won the presidential runoff, garnering 2,664 votes, or 53.79 percent.
Your LSU’s Landon Hester and Kristina Lagasse earned 46.21 percent, or 2,289 votes.
The University continued its tradition of having the lowest voter turnout in the SEC. Turnout was down 13 percent from last year’s 5,665 voters.
This year’s turnout was slightly higher than the 2010 numbers, but fell far short of 2008’s and 2009’s numbers, which exceeded 6,000.
More than 100 students, faculty and family members gathered Wednesday afternoon in the Live Oak Lounge to hear the election announcements for the presidential, vice presidential and other SG positions.
The crowd hushed before SG Commissioner of Elections Amelia Burns announced Cox and Hebert’s victory.
The right side of the room, filled with Be Heard supporters, erupted with roaring cheers when Burns declared Cox and Hebert victorious. Students jumped out of their seats and hugged one another.
Cox said he did not look at the screen to find out the results, but instead at his running-mate Hebert. Others slapped Cox’s back as he burst into joyful tears. He pushed his way through the crowd to see his parents, who traveled from Bossier City.
“We did it,” Cox said after his supporters calmed down.
He said it was humbling to know students would put their trust in him and Hebert.
“I have never felt more humbled in my entire life,” he said “We start now.”
Hebert said the duo will begin to work on the co-curricular transcript as their first initiative once they’re inaugurated April 18, when Hebert said she will soak in the gravity of her position.
“I’m going to sit in my new office and take it in,” Hebert said.
Current SG President Cody Wells, who campaigned for the losing Your LSU ticket, said he expects a “smooth transition.”
“Taylor will be able to redesign his executive charter,” Wells said, adding that he would help if needed.
Wells said the drama of the election did not remind him of his campaign last year, but the excitement did.
“There was not this much emotion built up [last year],” he said. “The excitement … reminds me of how excited I was.”
Your LSU vice presidential candidate Lagasse said she is proud of her ticket, despite its defeat. Your LSU presidential candidate Hester left the premises soon after the announcement and did not return phone calls from The Daily Reveille.
“It may not show in the numbers, but what my ticket has done is something that people can see to be far more successful than winning any election,” Lagasse said.
The room was divided – Be Heard supporters wore green on the right of the stage, and Your LSU supporters clad in yellow sat on the left.
Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students K.C. White invited all presidential and vice presidential candidates in front of the stage to read the LSU Commitment to Community.
“Today is about our LSU students,” White said.
Former R.E.A.L. Campaign candidates Joshua and Joseph Hollins and Renew LSU’s Bat Brunner joined Cox, Hebert, Hester and Lagasse. Madeleine Davis of Renew LSU was not present.
White praised the candidates on dedicated campaigns.
“They felt committed to lead us together in this commitment to community,” she said.
Burns said the results are not final until April 16.
 
 
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Contact Danielle Kelley at [email protected]