With five days left for students to enter the race to lead the 2005 Undergraduate Council, two tickets have emerged as contenders.

Presidential and vice-presidential hopefuls have until Sunday afternoon to collect 100 signatures from student supporters.

Right now, the presidential race pits Matthew J. Glazer ’06 against Teo P. Nicolais ’06. Both are third-year council members who hold top council roles.

Glazer serves as chair of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC), a job that has historically served as a launching pad for the council presidency. Three of the past four presidents have held the position.

Nicolais serves as chair of the Finance Committee, overseeing the allocation of two-thirds of the council’s funds. Due to successive termbill hikes, the council’s budget increased this year and will increase again next year.

Nicolais said his campaign will focus on the need to make best possible use of the windfall.

“More than anything, we need to prioritize and budget, if we are truly to seize this momentous opportunity,” Nicolais said.

Glazer also said he will emphasize fiscal responsibility—apparently a major issue months after the council was fined over $1,800 for accidentally bouncing checks—as well as push University Hall on issues such as increasing student space.

“The issue is ridiculous on campus, and it’s time for the administration to stop ignoring it,” Glazer said.

Glazer’s running mate is Clay T. Capp ’06, who serves as council treasurer. Samita A. Mannapperuma ’06, chair of the council’s Finance Policy Committee, is running for vice president alongside Nicolais.

Outside her council duties, Mannapperuma, a Crimson editor, also participates in student government as Curricr House Committee vice chair and as Harvard’s head delegate to the Ivy Council, where student leaders from Ivy League schools discuss common issues.

Mannapperuma said she also brings a unique perspective to the campaign due to her job as an admissions office tour guide.

“I sell Harvard on a weekly basis, and now I have the opportunity to make it a better place for everyone,” said Mannapperuma.

Glazer said that Capp, who has served on both SAC and the Campus Life Committee, understands the council better than any other member.

Capp argued that he and Glazer had successfully cultivated the types of “relationships” council leaders need to enact change.