Two University of Wisconsin students will face off this semester for the right to represent Madison’s 8th alder district, a spot vacated by current City Council President Austin King, who is not seeking re-election.

The district includes much of the UW campus, as well as parts of both State Street and Regent Street. Running for the seat are UW sophomore Eli Judge, former chair of Students for a Fair Wisconsin, and UW senior Lauren Woods, former president of UW’s Black Student Union.

King, who plans to attend law school in the fall, has already endorsed Woods and has agreed to serve as her campaign treasurer.

“I’m thrilled that she’s running,” King said. “We need someone with both the experience and the passion to represent students, and she’s got both.”

Woods, a Chicago native who has lived in Madison for four years, currently serves on the Equal Opportunities Committee, the MultiCultural Student Coalition and the Regent Street South Campus Plan Steering Committee. She was also an intern for state Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee.

Judge, meanwhile, said he proved his time management skills last fall when he worked on the Students for a Fair Wisconsin campaign, an organization that encouraged students to vote against the gay-marriage amendment.

“At the end of the campaign last semester, I was probably working 30, 40 hours per week,” Judge said.

He added the experience he garnered from working on this campaign would help him perform his duties as an alder. Judge said these include working to improve the well-being of the city and maintaining fiscal responsibility within the City Council.

“After the 2006 election, I know that the student voice is something more powerful than anyone expected it to be, and I want to bring that voice to City Council,” said Judge, a native of River Forest, Ill.

Woods said that as a UW student, she has shown a huge interest in being involved in the Madison community. If elected, she said she would urge others to do the same.

“I would encourage more students, as a representative, to engage themselves in shaping policies that not only directly influence them and other students on campus, but also the community members … who are not students,” Woods said.

Both candidates expressed concern regarding Madison’s recent increase in crime, particularly in the student area. Judge said he has been interviewing people on the street about their biggest concerns living in Madison, and they have consistently mentioned safety.