Photo by Joshua Lawton

University of Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins autographs a football for a young fan after spring football practice Tuesday afternoon inside the CU practice bubble in Boulder. Hawkins is running for student government at CU.

University of Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins doesn't want to just lead his school on the football field -- he's also looking to help call the shots in the student government.

Hawkins is making a bid for CU's student union, a play that other students running on his candidate slate say will help broaden the interests that are represented by the three-branch government that controls a $30 million budget. But others worry such a high-profile candidate on this spring's ballot will turn the election into a popularity contest at a time when important higher-education issues, such as soaring costs of attendance, need to be addressed.

The online election runs from April 7 to 11. Last spring, about 22 percent of CU's students voted.

Hawkins, a CU sophomore, said he has experience in student government, serving as vice president and treasurer while at Bishop Kelly High School in Idaho.

He will be running for a representative slot on the Arts and Science Student Government, and will be on the "One" ticket that includes candidates for the school's tri-executives and other representative positions.

"I definitely have the time, and if you want to make something happen or help out, then student government is probably the way to do it," Hawkins said Tuesday. "If it ever was too much and I wasn't able to do it, I would say so and we could get another rep in there."

Chance Heath, a student-government representative who is running for a tri-executive also on the "One" slate, said students know Hawkins is a hard worker.

"I think that Cody is well-known, but more importantly, he is well-respected by the student body," Heath said. "That's definitely an asset."

Heath, a fraternity member, said the student union has been weighed down by unnecessary partisan politics -- and his ticket's agenda is to represent a broad group of students. Other candidates are involved in leadership groups, Hillel and club sports, and have experience helping govern the student center, recreation center, Cultural Events Board and a diversity outreach center.

"The everyday student is represented very well, and their needs aren't being met in the student government," said Piers Blyth, a tri-executive candidate on the "One" ticket who participates in club athletics. "We want to represent as many students as possible."

Ryan Biehle, chief of staff for the student union who is running for tri-executive on a competing ticket, said there are several pressing campus issues. His ticket's platforms include strengthening student communication with the administration, improving diversity and making the campus more environmentally friendly.

Biehle said that Hawkins' campaign could distract from the important topics.

"I hope that there is a strong focus on the issues, and that it's not a popularity contest," Biehle said. "That's still to be determined by the election."

Butch Oxendine, executive director of the American Student Government Association, said most high-profile athletes are "heavily discouraged" by their coaches from participating in student government. The association is an umbrella group for more than 600 schools across the country, but CU is not a member.

"I rarely see any big-shot athletes running for student government," Oxendine said. "During their seasons, they are under such time constraints and we want somebody who can serve the student government and make a significant time commitment."

When Oxendine was a student at the University of Florida in the mid-1980s, he was the press secretary for a campaign that included the school's quarterback, Kerwin Bell.

"He ran for a senate leadership position, and later had to resign because of his time commitments," Oxendine said. "He was the face of the campaign, the other two candidates had their arms around him. We had him dressing in the political party shirts and smiling away. Everybody knew his name."

Sally Ho, a spokeswoman for CU's student union, said candidates have filed their petitions, but they still need to be verified. Potential candidates need to meet with the election commission at 6 p.m. today and sign campaign contracts.

Camera Staff Writer Kyle Ringo contributed to this report.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Brittany Anas at 303-473-1132 or anasb@dailycamera.com.