Student Government's political parties will interview potential Senate candidates at the Reitz Union today, Friday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ariana Alfonso, the supervisor of elections for SG, said the Unite, Progress and Orange and Blue parties registered for the election, which will be held Sept. 29 and 30.
SG's party presidents agreed that all candidates should bring at least one thing to their interviews: ideas.
Fifty Senate seats are available, including 14 for on-campus housing areas and 36 for off-campus housing districts.
Students interested in running for Senate also need to bring their Gator 1 Cards to the Reitz Union, Room 284, and they must fill out a qualifying form before talking to any of the parties.
"They should come prepared to both ask and answer questions," she said.
Joey Regalado, the Unite Party president, said candidates don't have to come with revolutionary ideas. Instead, he wants them to think of small proposals that will increase SG's presence and recognition on campus.
Regalado said he is looking for a good group of candidates willing to put themselves second and the desires of the student body first.
"We are accepting people from any age group, any background, any organizational affiliation," he said. "All are welcome to come out for the Unite Party."
Regalado said Unite will have a full slate of 50 senators.
Dave Schneider, the Progress Party president, said it would be great to have a full slate, but he wants people committed to increased openness and participation in SG.
"The priority is not to get a full slate of half-qualified candidates," he said. "The goal is to get a slate of student candidates that are going to represent people across the board."
Schneider said he wants to find student leaders willing to represent real student interests. Candidates don't need to have previous political experience, he said.
Kyle Huey, the Orange and Blue Party president, said he looks for candidates who are familiar with what's going on in SG and have opinions on SG issues like the free newspapers on campus.
"We're looking for students who want to make real, substantive changes in SG, and everything else is second to that," he said.
Huey said he plans to have a full slate.
Parties must submit their candidate selections by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Alfonso said. Each party's official slate will be posted Wednesday, the day of the mandatory candidate meeting.
