Bachmeier takes Presidency without a fight

May 22, 2009 • written by Kim Braesch, Staff Writer  
Filed under News

         The campaign for Student Body President 2010 took a different turn from the run of 2009. Instead of three candidates making speeches and campaigning for votes, this year only one student ran for the position.

        On Thursday morning, May 7, junior Levi Bachmeier made his lone campaign speech in the commons.  By that afternoon, without any votes, it was announced that he was the new Student Body President for next school year.

        Bachmeier had put in all the work of campaigning and did not know until that week that he was the only person running for the position.

        “I had no idea no one else was running,” Bachmeier said. “I put my name on the list when it opened on Friday and got my essay done. I was informed on Tuesday that I was the one person running.”

       Bachmeier is excited that he will be next year’s Student Body President, but wishes other students would have run against him.

        “I would have liked to win running against someone, but it guess a win is a win,” he said.

       Bachmeier understands the stress many of his fellow students are feeling and realizes that may be a factor in their decision to not run.

        “I know it’s senior year and a lot of people will have other obligations,” Bachmeier said. “There are people busy doing other things in the community and this would be too much to add onto their already busy schedules.”

        Student Council adviser Lori Anderson is excited for Bachmeier’s win; however, she feels that more students should have run.

        “I think every one of our student council members would have been great as Student Body President,” Anderson said. “I think they felt like they had too much stuff on their plate to add the position of something that would take so much of their time.”

        One of the potential runners was junior Nicole Schmidt.

        “I am a leader and have always taken leadership roles,” Schmidt said.

        Her deterrent factor was the amount of time she would have to devote to the position.

        “With everything I’m involved in; I have a job, I’m family oriented, I’m taking a lot of really hard classes next year, fundraising for our Spanish trip,” Schmidt said. “I feel like I would be doing a disservice to the school because I couldn’t be 100 percent dedicated.”

        Junior Kene Okigbo considered running, but was stopped for a different reason.

       “There is a possibility of me moving next year,” Okigbo said. “I didn’t want to win and find out that I was moving, and there would be no Student Body President next year.”

        Both students think Bachmeier will excel in his new role next year.

        “He is very friendly and nice; he is a good leader and he wants to do what is best for the student body,” Schmidt said.

        Okigbo agrees that Bachmeier would be a strong Student Body President.

       “He is reliable and knows a lot of people,” Okigbo said. “He knows how to make decisions.”

        Bachmeier knows that even though he was the only student running, he was still the right man for the job.

        “I wanted to take an active role in the school and I want to see it grow,” Bachmeier said. “I want to see the quality of the school day increased. I want to see people happy to come to school.”

        Bachmeier is already thinking about the changes he will make next year as.

        “There are a lot if things I would like to see changed. I think we need more school spirit. I would like to see the school involved in a lot more service opportunities.”

        Bachmeier realizes this position holds tremendous weight and is willing to take suggestions from his fellow classmates.

        “If any students have anything they would like to see changed in the school,” Bachmeier said. “They can come talk to me about it.”

        Bachmeier is excited for next year and the role he will be taking as Student Body President.

        “It will be a big year next year,” Bachmeier said. “I want to expand off the great things Student Council has been doing.”