By Thomas Mott | Reporter
Fort Worth junior Elizabeth Larson was elected internal vice president Wednesday, defeating her opponent, Nashville, Tenn., sophomore Baily Dahl, in a runoff election.
In the original election, Larson received 1,656 votes to Dahl’s 1,222, according to student government. However, there was a third candidate in the running, which created a plurality of votes that was not larger than 12 percent. The student body governing documents require a runoff between the two highest candidates when such a problem occurs said Cypress senior Chris Seals, senate parliamentarian.
Both candidates campaigned on Fountain Mall on Wednesday morning, trying to help gain runoff votes.
Dahl, who originally had received 44.53 percent of the votes, congratulated Larson in a message to the Lariat and said she looks forward to seeing what Larson can accomplish as internal vice president.
“Even though the results did not turn out as I had hoped, I can promise you to keep striving to empower the student body by bringing attention to your thoughts, concerns, issues to your voices,” Dahl wrote in a message to the Lariat. “It has been an honor and joy being considered for the position of Internal Vice President. Congratulations to my running mate Elizabeth Larson – looking forward to seeing what you accomplish during your time in office.”
The Lariat reached out to Larson for a comment on her win, but received no response.
Student body officers and newly-elected positions will be sworn in at the first meeting of the 65th Legislative Session. Current officials will continue to serve until June 1, when the new term begins.
