University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point junior Eric Folkman unknowingly won a spot on the Portage County Board of Supervisors last week.

With a total of seven write-in votes, the 21-year-old student beat another write-in candidate — Eric Krszjzaniek, also a student — by two votes for the District 11 seat.

The losing candidate asked for a recount, the results of which will be determined today.

"It was just a shock," Folkman said of winning the election. "I went to vote and there was no one on the ballot, so I wrote myself in. Since then, it just took off."

After writing himself in, Folkman said he went back to his residence where he told friends about the blank ballot. Since there were only three other people in the lobby at the time, he does not know who else wrote his name in.

According to Shirley Simonis, deputy clerk for the Portage County Clerk's Office, there was a "scattering" of other people who received votes, each receiving only one or two. She added that Krszjzaniek had campaigned for the spot, but was not listed on the ballot probably because of missing the filing deadline.

"I've been waiting to see what the recount says. If it shows me the winner, I think it's a good thing," Folkman said. "I'm ready to take it on."

While some have labeled Folkman's win as a college prank, the UW-Stevens Point political science major maintains he always wanted to serve the public in some capacity, and that a spot on the board could offer him that opportunity — just a little earlier than he anticipated.

Simonis noted there were two university students on the board last term, and that student involvement in that capacity is not uncommon, considering the make-up of the district is comprised largely of college students.

"I think anybody who is interested in the position and in the county should run," Simonis said.

Folkman also noted the importance of student voice on the board, saying that because the average age of board members is around 60 years old, the district's population is not well represented.

"Students and young people in general — we're the ones who will be living there longer," he said, adding his excitement for the opportunity to represent fellow students.