Tracy, Fortanbary support Bailey; Gibson backs Guyton
Candidates in today’s and Wednesday’s runoff elections for student body vice president and treasurer have pulled out the big guns to secure more votes, landing major endorsements from former candidates and current executive officers in Student Government.
Ryan Bailey, one of the two candidates for student body vice president, released endorsement videos from current Student Body President Kenny Tracy and former vice presidential candidate Will Fortanbary Monday.
Both are short — neither runs more than 40 seconds — but both offer the students’ endorsements of Bailey that weren’t public during the general election.
Tracy lauded Bailey’s initiatives and leadership, saying he has seen Bailey in action with students, faculty, staff and administration.
“He has a vision for safety and academic enrichment here at the University of South Carolina,” Tracy said.
Fortanbary also praised Bailey’s initiatives and said Bailey planned on implementing some of Fortanbary’s platform initiatives.
“He’s going to do a really great job,” Fortanbary said. “I’m excited about what he’s going to do.”
While Tracy appeared alone in his endorsement video, Fortanbary and Bailey appeared together, sitting in a Waffle House. Fortanbary also called Bailey his friend, despite the fact that they were opponents less than a week ago.
While current Student Body Treasurer Coy Gibson said he would not endorse any candidates when asked last Wednesday night, he endorsed treasurer candidate Haley Guyton in a video, also released Monday.
“What she’s done in this past year as a comptroller, a financial adviser to student organizations, as well as some of her ideas for student sponsorships for student organizations, [is] wonderful,” Gibson said.
Gibson has supervised Guyton since she became a comptroller in 2012.
“She’s exceeded expectations in this past year,” he said. “She’s a delight to work with, and I think that she has what’s necessary to be our next treasurer.”
Gibson has also worked closely with Guyton’s opponent, Caroline Hendricks, who is currently the president pro tempore of student senate and has been in Student Government for the past three years.