After a long deliberation, the Daily Editorial Board has decided to endorse the executive slate of Matt Welk and Kara Ladlie in the Government of the Student Body election that begins today and runs through Wednesday.

In endorsing Welk and Ladlie, we do not wish to detract from any of the other candidates in the four-slate contest.

Iowa State students are blessed this year with a wide swath of candidates all representing different factions of the student body.

Wendell Mosby and Luke Howell brought a fresh voice, one of passion and activism. Ben Golding and Lisa Dlhouy brought a stable voice, one of strength and leadership. Rick Cordaro and Alex Olsen brought a logical voice, one of experience and honesty.

Welk and Ladlie, sophomore and junior in agricultural education respectively, brought a new voice, one of optimism and enthusiasm.

Neither student has any GSB experience, but we are not supporting their slate because they are “outsiders,” the political buzz label everyone from John McCain to Al Gore tries to obtain.

We feel that Welk’s ticket demonstrates more originality, compassion and connection with students than the other candidates.

If GSB is truly the government body of all ISU students, then Welk and Ladlie should not be penalized for having no previous GSB experience. They have both been resident assistants, an underestimated position of leadership that forges a commitment to diversity and teamwork.

During interviews and debates during the two-week campaign, Ladlie often made the point that GSB needs to work more to come to students, to be accessible. On a campus where a large segment of students do not even realize what GSB is or how it can affect them, that must be one of the central themes of any successful administration.

The Welk/Ladlie slate also was the duo that came across during the campaign as being the most candid of the candidates, while still keeping that optimism rooted in reality.

Welk has said during the campaign that tuition increases are inevitable, and the concentration of GSB should be on letting students get more from that tuition. This is a realistic reaction when compared to empty campaign promises to “fight tuition increases.”

That realism was also expressed when Welk said he felt the Memorial Union should come under university control, which is nearly inevitable, but that students should be involved in the decision-making process and the eventual governing of the MU.

The bottom line is Welk and Ladlie are two students who possess a great deal of intelligence, poise, excitement and leadership. They would be a welcome addition to GSB.

Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Sara Ziegler, Greg Jerrett, Kate Kompas, Carrie Tett and David Roepke.