Student Body Presidential candidate Ben Waters '06 dropped out of the crowded race Friday afternoon, narrowing the field to five male members of the junior class. This past weekend also saw the return to campus of former two-term Student Body President Janos Marton '04 and the first campaign posters of the season -- warm-ups for a week of extensive campaigning.
Waters said he notified the Elections Planning and Advisory Committee of his decision to end his bid Friday after contemplating whether he wanted to stay in the race.
"I lost interest in the position," Waters said of his low-key exit from the race.
Waters said he has "not decided to endorse any candidates at this time."
Jim Baehr '05, manager of junior Noah Riner's campaign, said he had not heard about Waters' decision to drop out until Sunday night. The effect of Waters' exit from the race is unpredictable, Baehr said.
"The whole campaign is going to be different because of instant run-off voting," Baehr said. "It's going to be less 'divide and conquer' and 'more unite and win.' So we weren't ever intending to be antagonistic toward Ben Waters supporters."
Brian Martin '06's campaign manager, Sarah Ayres '06, said she did not think Waters' exit would affect her candidate.
"[Martin's] always been the top candidate and he still is the top candidate," Ayres said.
Candidate Paul Heintz '06 disagreed, saying Waters' departure would be significant.
"I think it's pretty huge that Ben dropped out," Heintz said. "I think that really changes the dynamics of the race and pushes it in my favor."
Campus quasi-celebrity Marton returned to Dartmouth to hit the campaign trail for Heintz on Saturday night. Marton joined the candidate and several supporters on a "circuit," visiting co-ed, fraternity and sorority houses to endorse Heintz.
"Paul is the only candidate that can make all students believe that student government matters," Marton told The Dartmouth at Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. "Will he do that? I don't know. But I think he can and that's why I'm supporting him."
Marton said he was lending his support to Heintz despite the fact Heintz never served on the Assembly.
"[Heintz] had a campus leadership experience that may not directly be involved with SA, but he knows how they work and what needs to be changed about it, and that's what matters," Marton said.
Marton's support is significant, Heintz said, because Marton passed over four candidates with Assembly experience.
In supporting Heintz, Marton bypassed four candidates with whom he worked on the Assembly in his two years as Student Body President, including Riner, who served as vice president during Marton's second year at the helm of the Assembly, and Martin, a friend since preschool.
"I don't really think it's significant to the race," Ayres said, noting that her candidate is enjoying the support of many current Assembly members.
"Brian's really trying to stay away from a lot of the political infighting that has marked SA this year, for the past couple terms," Ayres said.
Baehr, who made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency last spring, said Marton toured Greek basements with him when he was running for Student Body President.
"Janos went on a circuit with me last year and that didn't translate into an endorsement," Baehr said.
Although he went on a circuit with Baehr earlier in the 2004 race, Marton came out with an 11th-hour official endorsement for now-Student Body President Julia Hildreth '05.
"I think Janos is willing to do a circuit with anyone who asks," Baehr said, adding, "[It] didn't work for me."
Baehr returned to campus elections this year hoping for a more positive outcome for the candidate whose campaign he is running.
"I kept trying to encourage different female friends to run so I wouldn't have to support Noah, but sadly he's the best man for the job," Baehr said.
