Stephen N. Smith '02 is the heir apparent to current Undergraduate Council president Fentrice D. Driskell '01.

He worked on her campaign last year. He stuck by Driskell's running mate John A. Burton '01 during last year's impeachment scandal.

And his campaign themes--"bringing people together" and building community--are strikingly similar to the Driskell's platform from last year.

Driskell, whose opponent Sterling P. A. Darling '01 was endorsed by last year's outgoing president, says she will not make an endorsement this year--although she is working on Smith's campaign.

"I know what it feels like to be on the opposite end [of an endorsement]," she says. "But as a friend, I will be working on Steve's campaign in a limited capacity."

But for all of Smith's connections to the outgoing council leadership, it's not clear whether Driskell's support will be an asset or a liability to the candidate from Adams House.

On the one hand, Driskell ran one of the most successful campaigns in council history last year, crushing her opponents with more than twice as many votes as anyone else.

But Driskell has strong and committed opponents on the council who are convinced she has made little headway with her "community building" initiatives, and who say that Smith's presidency will be similarly characterized by inaction.