Daryl Jones will be the new student vice president for public affairs beginning April 25.

Jones, who received 327 votes of the 727 ballots cast, won the seat by a mere 30 votes over the next strongest competitor Marty Ruhaak, who received 297 votes.

“I’ll do my best to make the students happy with their decision,” Jones said at Wednesday’s Student Senate meeting, where the election results were released. “The students showed their concern with a lot of issues I talked about.”

Jones said he really appreciated the students’ support, and he will have an “open door policy” to hear their concerns.

A third candidate, Rachel Foster with the Alpha party, brought in 73 votes. Foster declined comment and Ruhaak also declined comment.

“Marty was a great candidate,” Jones said. “I really think either one of us would do just as good of a job.”

Jones received the majority of his winning votes from on-campus students on the second day of voting.

The student body vice president for business affairs is charged with being the chief public affairs officer of the student body and assisting the student body president in determining the general policy of the public affairs area, according to the Student Government constitution.

One of the top positions Jones will assume in his new office is as student trustee to the Eastern Board of Trustees. Also as part of his new position he will make appointments to the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee and the Charleston City Council (student representative).