Four University of Wisconsin students are gearing up for the race for Madison’s 8th aldermanic district.

The district, currently held by UW senior Eli Judge, is mostly composed of students and will be left vacant when he leaves for law school this spring.

The four candidates — Bryon Eagon, Katrina Flores, Jacob Schmidt and Mark Woulf — are working on fundraising and have yet to receive any major endorsements.

Rachel Strauch-Nelson, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, said the mayor is meeting with candidates and has yet to decide if he will have an endorsement for the District 8 race.

The primary elections will be held Feb. 17.

Bryon Eagon

Eagon, 20, is a junior majoring in political science and communication arts. His experience includes serving as the freshman representative on the Student Council and chair of UW’s Students for Obama.

“My number one priority will be campus and downtown safety,” Eagon said. “I think when addressing safety you need to look at not only short-term, immediate action but also long-term solutions.”

As a short-term solution, Eagon wants to focus on neighborhood watch programs, community policing, cab stand funding and strategic lighting. In the long run, he wants to develop programs to tackle homelessness, poverty, alcoholism and recreational activities for Madison’s youth.

Katrina Flores

Flores, 30, is a graduate student focusing on curriculum and instruction at UW’s School of Education. She is a co-founder of the MultiCultural Student Coalition, founder of Women of the Scarred Earth Performance and Popular Education Project and founder of the Youth Engaged Through Language Project.

“For me it’s really about trying to offer something new, not to be really about party politics, but creating accessibility for students in the district to be able to come up with key solutions in the community to what they’re most concerned about,” Flores said.

She wants to focus on residential rights, environmental sustainability and responsibility, community art programs and safety.

Jacob Schmidt

Schmidt, 20, is a junior majoring in political science and economics. His experience includes work in the office of state Rep. Scott Newcomer, R-Hartland and participating in a statewide voter education program in the 2008 election.

His priorities include safety and tenant rights and also improving student participation in the City Council.

“We are a critical piece of the puzzle here in Madison and our opinions matter,” Schmidt said. “If elected, I would follow in Ald. Judge’s footsteps by setting up various times I was available to the public around campus and create my own forum to update citizens of City Council happenings and listen to their input.”

Mark Woulf

Woulf, 20, is a junior majoring in political science and sociology. He has worked as the undergraduate representative in UW’s Alcohol and Drug Task Force.

He is yet to unveil his full campaign strategy and priority list but said he will focus on alcohol and safety issues.

“As the district is, I consider extremely important that we look at the student issues, and first and foremost that’s got to be safety,” Woulf said.

When it comes to the Mifflin Street block party, Woulf would like to see a return to the times when there was more music and fewer student arrests.

“It should be a celebration; it should be a block party,” he said.