This February 17th and April 6th, the students at UWEC have a unique opportunity to change the city of Eau Claire and this university for the next 20 years. The student population at UWEC represents 1/6 of the total population of the city and is critical to the city's economic wellbeing. Yet despite the important role this university plays to the sustainability of Eau Claire, there has grown a giant rift between the university and the city. We are a people divided, and this cannot be allowed to last. Far too often we see incidents of the city vs. the students and the students vs. the city. It is time for a change.

My name is Brandon Buchanan, and I am running for the City Council of Eau Claire because I believe that I can be a bridge between the city and the university. I believe that we have an opportunity to change the way the city and university interact for the betterment of us all. And I believe that the time to act is now.

One of the most divisive issues facing this city with respect to UWEC is parking at the third ward. The people at Roosevelt have a right to be upset when their driveways are blocked, but banning parking only serves to divide our people. I have a real solution to this problem that can help everyone in the community (both students and residents of the Third Ward). We must force the City Council to improve the bus service by adding new bus routes which target student populations who don't have bus service to campus. Students already pay over $190,000 a year to local transit, and this has been a great investment. But the service can and must be improved. Adopting this solution is one that can unite the community instead of furthering the division that already exists.

Two thousand students have already signed a petition to block the Roosevelt parking, yet there are those on the council who seem not to be interested in this student input. (Note that I said some, not all.) This is very important outside of the parking issue, because it shows how easy it is for students to not be taken seriously. The student body must have representation on the council so that when 2,000 citizens of this city stand united in a cause (student or not), the city will hear them and respect their issues.

MTV right now is gearing up for anther "Rock the Vote" campaign. They point out that 18 million people from 18 to about 28 voted in the last Presidential election, and the difference between the two candidates was under 500,000 votes and in some states (like Florida) the difference was only 500. Then they ask how would things be if 20 million students voted. If it is true that student votes could change the face of our nation's politics, it is even truer on the local level where students represent 1/6 of the total EC population.

I am running because I want students on campus to be educated about local politics and vote in local elections. In the past, one of the major reasons why students didn't vote in past local elections (including myself) is because students were not aware of who was running, why they were running, or even in many cases that there even was an election. My campaign (as well as the campaigns of the other two students running) has generated significant press here at UWEC to educate the student population, including articles in the Flipside, Spectator, and even a rally that will be held Monday. It is about time that the news of Eau Claire was brought to this campus so we can have an educated voting population, and my campaign is doing just that.

On Tuesday, February 17th there is a primary to determine who will be allowed to run in the general election for the City Council. Please cast your vote to help push students through the primary. It is time that the voices of all the residents of Eau Claire are heard, and if I am elected I will make sure they are.