J.P. Muir and Sue Williams snared nearly 50 percent of the vote to win the top two posts in the Undergraduate Student Government, defeating by more than a thousand votes runners-up Brad Haartz and Doug DeLong.

"We have won, but it is not us who have won, it's the students," said an exuberant and relieved Sue Williams. "We didn't do it. They did it for us and their voice is restored."

This year's voter turnout reached 6,247, which is up about 33 percent from last year's 4,685 votes.

As about 300 supporters waited nervously to hear if their candidate would win, Muir and Williams' numerous supporters shouted confidently, "J.P. and Susie." After Elections Commissioner Brien Kocher announced the Muir/Williams ticket as the winner, the candidates' fan club lifted them on their shoulders and made a dash to the podium.

Muir, whose ticket captured 2,998 votes, said he won the election because he attracted a segment of the students that is not usually involved with USG. Muir received endorsements from the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments and the Interfraternity Council.

"They thought that USG couldn't do anything for them, but we proved to them we can," he said.

Muir said he hopes to a create Big 10 Coalition and a new department to address academic concerns. He will also work toward minority recruitment and retention, and pressure administrators to upgrade Ritenour Health Center, he said.

Elections commissioners agreed that the high turnout was due to good weather and the large number of candidates running.

"I'm really surprised with the turnout," said Andy Dremann, the elections commissioner from East Halls. "The voters seemed to know who they wanted to vote for. They seemed informed."

Elections Commissioner for North Halls John Eliot said about 45 percent to 50 percent of North Halls residents voted.

Last year, USG President Janyne Althaus and Vice President Bill Novick received 1,462 votes, accounting for 31.2 percent of the votes cast.

Following Muir and Williams were:

-- Haartz and DeLong, who collected 1,955 votes for 32 percent of the vote.

-- Eric Epp and Sue Donohue, who collected 512 votes for 8 percent of the vote.

-- Jim Van Horn and Denys Wilmer, who collected 340 votes for 6 percent of the vote.

-- Jeff McCarty and Drew Maerz, who collected 98 votes for 2 percent of the vote.

-- Alistair Rae and Dave Bindseil, who collected 92 votes for 2 percent of the vote.

-- Write-in candidates James Whitehead and Jerry Winner collected 84 votes for 1 percent of the vote.

Most candidates who did not win the election said they would stay involved with USG.

"I'll still be involved trying to get students who haven't been represented with student government to get involved," Epp said. "I want to work hard to serve the students."

Haartz said he was not sure he would stay involved with USG, but said he would be involved in something.

"I have a lot of student service goals," Haartz said. "If USG is the way to get it accomplished -- I'll do it. If USG is not then I'll go somewhere else." The following were elected as USG senators:

Centre Halls: Kathleen Lalimarmo and Rick Gallo.

East I: Dave Bickel, Jeff West and Jereen Henry.

East II: Sukhi Jolly, Gitanjali Saluja.

East III: Alissa Kosfield.

Fraternity Area: Jeffrey Miller, Brian Rudick.

North Halls: Amanda Beavers.

Pollock Halls: Laura Baisch, Eileen Dreibelbis, Kenneth Powers.

South Halls: Angie Joint, Eric Smith.

West Halls: Chris Markham, Mark Stewart.

Town: Joseph Atkinson, Don Bowman Jr., Kurt Derr, Barbara Hollish, Tae Kang, Pam Kauffman, Aaron Kotzbauer, Monica Lacenere, Joseph Madden Jr., Jerry Martz, Tracey Maulfair, Mary Miles, Sean Noel, Efren Perez, Christian Ross, Julie Thomas and Michael Snider.

The senate filled all of its 34 seats, including a tie in East I between West and Henry. All seats have not been filled during an election since 1987.

"I don't know if it's true interest in the senate or interest in the presidential race," said outgoing Senate President Ron Marlow. "It can only signal good things to have a full body or close to a full body."