THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Childhood hooks candidate on politics
Former Nintendo club president seeks student body president post
By Cate Batchelder
cbatchelder@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
For Drew Thomas, joining politics was like joining the family business.
Brandon Baker/Kansar
Drew Thomas, Hays senior, is running for student body president with the Delta Force coalition. Thomas started his lifelong history of leadership in the fourth grade as president of a neighborhood Nintendo club.
Running for student body president with Delta Force stems from a long interest in politics, which began when his step-grandfather, Dan Johnson, (R-Hays), was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1996.
"I think everybody should be interested in the government," Johnson said. "Whatever I did that got him involved, and I don't have a clue what it was, must have been a good thing."
In high school, Thomas, Hays senior, was voted "Most Likely to Become the Next U.S. President." The title was a contest between Thomas and classmate Steve Elliott. Elliott ended up winning "Most Likely to Become a Millionaire."
"We decided he was going to fund my campaign if I ever did run, or at least help." Thomas said.
Thomas isn't running for national presidency any time soon, but he has been dubbed as a "little Bill Clinton."
As he sat on his front porch earlier this week, Thomas' roommates described him in three words: William Jefferson Clinton. Thomas
Meet the Candidates
Editor's note: To prepare students for Student Senate elections, The University Daily Kansan will profile each coalition's presidential and vice-presidential candidates
still remembers the Clinton-Gore theme song of 1992, Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop," and can sing it on cue.
When Thomas came to the University of Kansas, he knew that he'd be involved with politics. The political science and international studies major interned at the Kansas Senate as a sophomore and helped the Kansas Democratic Party in Topeka during the 2002 elections.
He tried Student Senate his freshman year and was hooked when the fifth Delta Force coalition won the presidency with Justin Mills and Kyle Browning in 2001. The day after they won, Thomas woke up at 6 a.m. to grab piles of The University Daily Kansan. The issue read "Delta Force Wins" in a banner headline with a beaming Mills gesturing No. 1. A framed copy hangs in Thomas' living room.
Now Thomas is running his own campaign with running mate Fallon Farokhi, Lawrence junior. He's recruited his little sister, Dina, to come to Wescoe Beach and help
campaign during the last leg of the elections.
She began the campaign at the Delta Force kick-off party where her brother surprised her by singing her "Happy Birthday," on her 18th. Because of his lack of ability, singing has since been banned from the campaign.
Dina Thomas said her brother has always been the leader of the group, dating back to the neighborhood Nintendo club. About 10 or
12 kids from the block voted Thomas Nintendo club president. The club had meetings in Thomas' basement — even keeping minutes — to discuss what were the best games.
"I was a big fan of Ghosts and Goblins, but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 was my favorite," he said.
— Edited by Michelle Burhenn
ClassSize - 8 GRE
Classes at KU Starting Soon!
- Maximum of eight students in a class
- Expert, enthusiastic instructors
- Guaranteed satisfaction
- Free extra help with your instructor
Space is limited. Call now to enroll
www.PrincetonReview.com | 800-2Review
GRE is a required document to the Educational Testing Services (ETS).
The Presentation Review is not affiliated with Princeton University or ITEE.