While issues such as mass transit, public safety and tenant rights become more highly debated by members of the Dane County Board, University of Wisconsin students have an opportunity to decide who will represent them on such issues in the Dane County Board elections Tuesday.

Students predominately populate both District 1, neighborhoods surrounding the capital, and District 2, all neighborhoods around the James Madison area. This geographic habitation allows UW students the potential to sway votes.

In District 1, current board member Scott McDonnel is running opposite Frank Harris.

McDonnel, if re-elected, wants to clean up Madison lakes, continue to raise sexual assault awareness and improve mass transit, while Harris would work toward more tenant rights, public safety and stimulating future economic growth and is opposed to funding a rail system in Madison.

“The county board must prioritize spending and assure adequate funding for social programs before spending millions on a light rail system,” Frank Harris said in a statement. “A very pricy light rail seems wrong when we can’t even fully fund basic programs that help those who are in need,” the statement continued.

Ald. Austin King, District 6, said Harris claimed the rail system would make the price of drinks rise, but King said this statement is not true.

“Frank Harris has put out a number of pieces,” King said, “but they all border ridiculous.”

King explained McDonnel has raised $400,000 for the tenant resource center and tens of thousands of dollars for sexual assault awareness.

“I think he deserves to win,” King said.

District 2 also presents itself as a close race between Judy Wilcox and Beth Gross.

Wilcox is a current member of the county board and if she is re-elected, she will work to fund human services, better land usage and public safety. While Gross would also work toward funding the preservation of human services and development planning, she is also concerned with affordable housing.

King explained Judy Wilcox is running on experience and reputation and claims she has endorsements, including Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

Gross is backed by current and former alders in her district, according to King.

“Local government works best when elected officials are accessible, informative and responsive. We’re supporting Beth Gross because she is committed to building a partnership with residents here in District 2,” Ald. Brian Benford, District 12, Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, and former Ald. Barbara Vedder said in a statement on Gross’s website.

“I think it’s going to be a tremendously close race,” King said.

Also up for election is a spot for the municipal judge. Dan Koval, who currently holds the position, is running for re-election.

King explained in Koval’s last term he made efforts to make the courts more citizen-friendly. King pointed to Koval’s establishment of night court for juveniles as an example of Koval’s efforts.

Jon Schweitzer, an administrative judge with the state Department of Regulation and Licensing, opposes Koval. Schweitzer is a former assistant district attorney in Dane and Rock Counties.