And the race is on.

Ryan Flaugh, GSB elections commissioner, released the names Tuesday of those Iowa State students running for Government of the Student Body executive positions.

Students on five slates are vying to be the next student body heads. Candidates for GSB’s 1997-98 president and vice president positions are now circulating nominating petitions around campus. The slates are as follows:

* LaRhonda Potts, a senior in business, will run with Rob Ruminski, a sophomore in history.

* Rob Wiese, a senior in agriculture studies, will run with Matt McLaren, a junior in agriculture business.

* Todd Swanson, a junior in accounting, will run with Amber Powell, a junior in dietetics.

* Brad Lozan, a sophomore in chemical engineering, will run with Melissa Cross, a sophomore in child and family services.

* Rory Flaherty, a junior in construction engineering, will run with Jeff Halliburton, a junior in anthropology.

Flaugh said there could be another slate, but those candidates haven’t started petitioning.

Each slate must submit 2,000 student signatures to GSB elections officials by Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. Last year only three slates were able to garner enough signatures to get on the ballot.

The students will become official candidates when their petitions are verified on Feb. 8. Candidates are allowed to start campaigning on Monday, Feb. 10.

A presidential debate will be held at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 18 in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union.

A vice-presidential debate will take place on Friday, Feb. 21 in Rooms 244 and 246 of the Memorial Union.

All candidates will appear in a debate scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24 at noon in the Oak Room of the Memorial Union.

This year’s elections will be held over three days, Feb. 25-27. Flaugh said he scheduled a three-day election in hopes of increasing voter turnout.

About 1,600 students voted in last year’s election.

There are about 25,000 students enrolled at ISU.