There was a landslide “difference” between the “The Difference” ticket and all other candidates Thursday night when Student Government election results were announced in Williams Hall.
The Chris Odinet and Christen Heaton “The Difference” ticket swept the election, capping off the victory with Odinet and Heaton taking approximately 72 percent of the presidential vote.
“I’m so excited,” Odinet said. “I think this shows we have an amazing ticket and amazing candidates.”
Chaz Caiado and Michael Faucheux finished second with approximately 13 percent of the presidential vote.
But Caiado and Faucheux were not present at the results meeting, opting to watch the LSU-Duke basketball game instead, Caiado said.
“That’s cool, I guess,” Caiado said of the results. “I guess I’m disappointed, but what are you going to do?”
The “Mass Turban Nation” campaign of Ryan Sands and Steve Mayeux finished third with approximately 9 percent of the vote.
Sands and Mayeux also skipped the results meeting, choosing to attend the speed-dating event in the Union instead.
“We’re stoked,” Sands said when informed of the results. “Three hundred, thirty-seven people voted for us? We’re ecstatic.”
Sands said he and Mayeux will continue filming comedy material for their Web site “under the guise” that they won the election, Sands said.
Sands said he was slightly surprised about “The Difference” ticket’s dominance.
“Seventy-two percent of the vote?” Sands asked. “That’s all?”
Garrett Chassee and James Chassee, whose names were added to the ballot on Tuesday because of a University Court injunction, finished fourth with approximately 6 percent of the vote.
One of the closest races was the race for five Arts and Sciences Senate seats.
Warren Quirett, political science sophomore and “The Difference” ticket member, won an Arts and Sciences Senate seat with approximately 14 percent of the vote, but Kevin Guillory, an independent candidate, was less than a percentage point away from forcing a runoff.
“I’m very excited about the new administration,” Quirett said. “I think we just have to stay focused and driven.”
In addition to the contested races, more than 20 candidates on “The Difference” ticket ran unopposed.
Odinet and Heaton said they plan to maintain the momentum from election day and begin moving forward with their plans.
“We will begin to set up a transition team and hand out executive staff applications,” Odinet said. “We will stay connected with the candidates and continue to get feedback from the campus.”
Heaton said establishing solid relationships will be an important part of their administration.
“We need to start meeting with faculty and engage the campus,” she said.
 
 
Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]