As the Dane County Board elections April 6 are quickly approaching, students at University of Wisconsin have the ability to make a strong impact.

Districts 1, 2, 5 and 13 are highly populated by student voters. Student voters in these districts will hold a powerful sway in deciding who is on the board for the 2004 term.

Current board members Echnaton Vedder, District 5, and Chuck Erickson, District 13, will be running unopposed for representation of their respective districts. Current board member Scott McDonnel, District 1, will run opposite Frank Harris, while current board member Judy Wilcox, District 2, runs opposite Beth Gross.

Echnaton Vedder said to represent District 5 he would work to improve water quality in Dane County and Madison, to control urban sprawl, to raise awareness of sexual assault and to improve mass transit.

He explained that UW students have the chance to effectively gain control of the county board, and he encouraged them to vote.

“We (the board) may be gaining majority on the more liberal side, which is really exciting,” Vedder said.

In District 2, Chuck Erickson said he would also work on the improvement of transportation.

“I would like to see improved bus systems, and if we had rail access it would be beneficial to UW undergraduate and graduate students,” Erickson said.

He said he is in support of land conservation and “smart growth” that is well-planned.

Erickson also said he wants to make sure health and human-service programs continue to get necessary funding.

In the race between McDonnel and Harris in District 1, McDonnel said phosphorus in fertilizer is a main source of runoff, which is polluting local lakes. One of his main goals, if re-elected, is to ban lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus in order to clean up Madison lakes.

McDonnel said he would also work on funding for sexual-assault prevention and is in support of boosting the county’s mass-transit system by bringing in a rail system.

McDonnel said Harris denied he is running as a Republican candidate despite his position as Chair of the College Republicans.

“I think there is a clear race between a Democratic candidate and a Republican,” McDonnel said.

Harris is a self-proclaimed “student running in a student district.”

He said if elected he would work to make tenants aware of their rights. He also said he would work toward increased funding for public safety.

Harris explained he is opposed to funding mass transportation.

“It will socially and economically hurt the county,” he said.

His goal is to stimulate future economic growth in order to keep UW graduates in the area.

“I want to work for a government that works efficiently, effectively and is adherent to the needs of the people in District 1,” Harris said.

For District 2, Judy Wilcox said she hopes to be re-elected because she feels there are going to be some tough issues the board will be faced with this term and her experience will give her the ability to make these decisions.

If re-elected, Wilcox is dedicated to providing funding for health and human-service needs for everyone in the community.

She said she would work to see land is being used effectively. Wilcox said her goal is for the board to control growth, not stop it.

She also said she would work to increase public safety.

“The reason I keep doing this is because I believe really strongly in local government,” Wilcox said.

Her opponent, Beth Gross, said if elected she would also work to preserve human services in the county.

She explained in terms of development planning she would strive to reduce traffic and preserve green space. She said she would also put effort toward improving water and air quality throughout Dane County and promoting affordable housing.

“Local government works best when elected officials are accessible, informative and responsive,” Gross said. “I am committed to building a partnership with residence in District 2 to achieve this major [goal],” she added.