UI students could have a major effect on this November’s election: Three are running for spots on the Iowa City City Council.

Thursday night marked the deadline for candidates to secure spots on the ballot. Five people are running for the two open at-large seats; two people are running for the District B spot.

The three students to take aim at the at-large council seats are Jeff Shipley, Jared Bazzell, and Dan Tallon.

Bazzell, a UI senior in journalism and communication studies, said he had been thinking about running for City Council for a couple of months.

“Every time I hear something that the council has done recently, it motivates me more and more,” he said.

He said he felt disappointed in the way the City Council has represented UI students, alleging it has not considered their point of view on main issues.

Tallon, a UI junior and member of the National Guard, was the final candidate to submit his signatures on Thursday.

He said he is campaigning to prevent further increases on local property taxes. He wants to make college living more affordable for students, especially those who come from impoverished families or have a parent with a disability.

“Any student shouldn’t be hindered a job,” he said. “They shouldn’t have to work hard to pay their rent just to stay in school.”

He also believes his military background will bolster his appeal to voters.

Shipley, a UI senior and the UI Student Government liaison to the council, said he feels he “fits in” with other councilors.

“In my mind, running for City Council and getting a campaign together that represents students is essentially just an extension or duty of the position I already have,” he told The Daily Iowan last week.

Councilors Amy Correia and Mike O’Donnell have announced they will give up their at-large seats. In addition, a District B seat is up for election; the current councilor, Connie Champion, is running for her fourth term.

Champion originally did not plan to run again, but she said encouragement from the community pushed her to give it another shot.

Champion’s opposing candidate is Waterloo-native Mark McCallum, a UI alumnus who graduated in 1993. He said public-safety issues on the city’s Southeast Side should be a priority for the council this fall.

Champion agreed.

“We’re the only ones who can solve this,” she said.

At-large candidate Susan Mims, a UI alum and 32-year resident of Iowa City, said she is banking on her five years of experience working with finances.

“What becomes very big for the next council is finances because they are going to have to cut money,” she said.

She stressed businesses should be taxed — not homeowners — for funds so local government can deal with issues such as improving public safety.

Terry Dickens, running for an at-large position, could not be reached for comment.

As for current councilors, they said the diverse group of candidates is far from concerning for the city.

“As long as someone is prepared and prepared to do the work, I don’t think age or occupation has much to do with it,” said Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey.