Bradley Opere wins with no need for a runoff election

Junior Bradley Opere won the race for student body president with 53 percent of the overall vote.

Opere said he was in a state of shock.

“If we can attract really good people, then I think it will be a great year,” Opere said regarding his first step as student body president.

The first thing Opere did after he heard the results was go shake fellow candidate Wilson Sink’s hand.

Candidates and members of campaign teams as well as family members waited in the hallway of the West Lounge in the Student Union.

Opere said his immediate next step is sleeping.

Chairperson of the Board of Elections Grayson Berger said this was the highest voter turnout from the past five elections.

Berger said 6,959 students voted.

The runoff election between Andrew Powell and Emilio Vicente was the only recent election to have more student votes with 7,441.

Sink said it has been a privilege to be around such amazing candidates and to have the opportunity to bring some of the biggest issues to light and put forth solutions.

Sink said, though he did not win, he was overwhelmed by student body support.

“To receive any kind of support, from my friends, from people I’ve never met before ­­— it’s been incredible,” he said.

“I think the school is lucky to have Bradley as student body president. He’s going to do an excellent job. I wish him all the best. I hope to help him out in any way I can.”

Sink said there are plenty of opportunities out there.

“Obviously this is not something I expected, but one door closes and another opens,” Sink said.

Candidate John Taylor said he’s always up for an adventure, and he will figure something else out.

“I’ve got to say, it’s been a real honor competing against these guys,” Taylor said. “They’ve been some really amazing competitors. They are the finest students Carolina has to offer.”

Taylor said Opere is a great guy and he is confident he will lead the school well.

Opere said he’s humbled and has many people to thank.

“I think we owe a lot to this campus and we just have to live up to it,” Opere said.

In order for the election to not go to a runoff, the winning candidate needs at least 50 percent of the vote.

There has been a runoff election every year since 2010 — this election breaks that streak. Current Student Body President Houston Summers and former student body presidents Andrew Powell, Christy Lambden, Will Leimenstoll, Mary Cooper and Hogan Medlin all won in runoff elections.

The Residence Hall Association president is incumbent Taylor Bates and senior class president and vice president are Elizabeth Grady and Rich Burris, respectively.

Election results were not announced until three hours after the polls had closed.

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