While next week's Student Government election creeps closer, SG records show that parties are still doling out hundreds of dollars for campaigning materials.
The Gator Party, which Treasurer Brady Beitlich said encourages party members and supporters to donate $75, raked in almost $4,000 in campaign contributions this semester. Roughly $200 of those contributions were spent on food and party supplies for a pre-campaign season barbecue for Student Senate candidates to "get to know each other," Beitlich said.
"We had just a nice afternoon, a nice barbecue," he said.
Meanwhile, the Orange and Blue Party, which President Sam Miorelli said encourages its members to donate anywhere from $50 to $60, collected about $1,900.
"I think the amount that we've raised from the candidates so far is much more than I expected," said Orange and Blue Party Treasurer Kyle Huey.
For both parties, most of the money spent so far has been on party T-shirts, with Gator spending about $2,150 and Orange and Blue spending about $1,500.
Records state that nearly all of the Orange and Blue Party's money has gone toward campaign materials, including T-shirts, stickers and fliers.
Despite having a total of about $1,900 in contributions, almost $2,000 has been spent. That's not including flyers, which Huey said he expects to spend $400-$450 on this week.
Huey said he and Miorelli would pay out of their pockets for the difference between the contributions and the costs.
"We'll probably end up putting a couple hundred each," he said. "There's not really anyt cost outside of the cost of campaign. Sam and I aren't skimming meals from five-star restaurants off the top or anything."
While both Beitlich and Huey said most of their contributions came from enthusiastic candidates who are energized about the election, Beitlich said some of the Gator Party's contributions have come from outside supporters.
Supporters include some student leaders or presidents of fraternities and sororities that are supporting a specific candidate. Some parents have even shown interest, he added.
Still, most of the Gator Party's support comes from its candidates.
"We're … personally into this, and we want to make sure our goals are reached."
For Orange and Blue, it's not so much about the money as it is the volunteers.
"If my option is to get more money or get more volunteers to spread the message, I'll take volunteers over money every day," Miorelli said.
"There's no substitute for enthusiastic ideals and enthusiastic candidates."
The Swamp and Student parties were fined $5 for filing financial paperwork late, according to Election Commissioner John Dicks. Both the parties have registered $0.
The SG election runs from Tuesday to Wednesday.
