Andre Fuller / Roundup
UPDATE (4/26/10 at 12:45 p.m.)— The two justices presiding over the hearing on whether ASO Vice President-elect Lauren Aaradema violated campaign rules have recommended that the candidate be disqualified.
UPDATE (4/24/10 at 4:30 p.m.)—Ryan Walker, the alleged man in the video, has confirmed that he is the man in the video.
According to Walker, via text message, the person he is walking with is Alexa Micek.
Micek is a friend and sports teammate of Walker’s girlfriend.
Walker said Micek didn’t even vote.
“Feel free to check the voter’s roster,” said Walker. “We were simply talking about the state of my girlfriend. As she was very sick at the time.”
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As reported Friday on the theroundupnews.com/, there were claims that election rules were violated during the ballot count.
According to info.piercecollege.edu/students/aso/, the ASO is a student government that supports the growth of the Pierce
According to Saenz, the ASO is investigating vice presidential candidate Lauren Aardema. The candidate, who unofficially won the ballot count 572 to 532, is being accused of violating ASO rules and regulations by campaigning 50 feet away from the polling site.
ASO created the Election Timeline and Rules, a document created to enlist rules and regulations for the election process. Rule 15 states, “Campaigning can not take place within 50 feet of the polling areas.”
According to Aardema, all of the candidates were given the same set of rules initially when they decided to run.
Daniel Axelrod, a vice presidential candidate running against Aardema, is the main individual accusing Aardema of violating campaign rules.
“Everyone bent the rules one way or another,” said Aardema. “If Daniel [Axelrod] is going to throw accusations at my campaign—he needs to take responsibility on behalf of his own campaign’s actions.”
According to Saenz, there are 10 written complaints filed. The complaints state that people on behalf of Aardema’s campaign team were going beyond the 50 feet boundary.
Axelrod, ASO vice presidential candidate, Election Committee Chair Sina Ghiabi and poll workers were among the people that filed a grievance.
“I’ll just review all the complaints,” said Saenz. “The complaints that matter most are the ones by the poll workers.”
ASO Treasurer Amr Abushami said that the situation has spiraled out of control.
“I feel appalled and embarrassed that certain accusations have occurred,” said Abushami. “I’m happy people stood up and fought for justice.”
Abushami, though skeptical of the circumstances, wants to hold full judgment until all the facts arise.
“We [ASO] don’t want to make a judgment just yet,” said Abushami. “But it doesn’t look good. She is going to be proven guilty.”
The treasurer feels Axelrod will prevail in the end.
“Daniel [Axelrod] is calm,” said Abushami. “He is a very honest guy.”
Saenz believes there should be justice. However, he points out that inquiry of the vice presidency is a regrettable one.
“I think it’s unfortunate that someone would have to lose an election because they violated the rules,” said Saenz.
Aardema’s position mirrors Saenz comments.
“It would be rather unfortunate if I was disqualified under false accusations,” said Aardema. “As I am the most suitable candidate for the position.”
The main accuser, Axelrod isn’t upset that he lost, but upset that Aardema took extreme measures to win the election.
“If I would have lost by 300 votes, then I don’t think I would have a case,” said Axelrod.
Axelrod lost the election by 40 votes.
According to Axelrod, 20 minutes into the election process Monday, April 19, he told Saenz and Ghiabi about what Aardema was doing.
“He [Saenz] warned Lauren’s [Aardema] campaign,” he said. “It wasn’t like it was under wraps. She knew that she was warned.”
Axelrod provided a cell phone video, www.youtube.com/watch, of what he believes is Ryan Walker, a member of the Aardema’s campaign team, escorting a voter to the election poll.
Ryan Walker, the man accused of holding the Aardema election sign in the video, was unavailable for comment.
“You [Roundup] have no proof of the individual telling them [the voter] to vote for me,” said Aardema. “After Brad [Saenz] told me to talk to Ryan [Walker], no such incident happened again.”
However, Aardema believes that Axelrod was the candidate that was violating the ASO Election Timeline and Rules.
“I ran an honest and fair campaign,” said Aardema. “The reality of the situation is, I followed all the guidelines and rules. In fact, representatives from his [Axelrod’s] campaign violated the rules that were originally given.”
Aardema then issued complaints on behalf of Axelrod’s camp after she found out there were complaints about her, according to Axelrod.
“I hope we have a school jury on Monday,” he said. “I hope we have a fair trial.”
Aardema feels that the real truth will come out, ultimately making her the ASO vice president.
“It’s unfortunate that a candidate of my experience, as a chair of the Public Welfare Committee, participant in the environmental club and an active member of the ASO Senate would be questioned so maliciously,” said Aardema.
“But I do feel justice will be served. And I will obtain the title of vice president—that I so clearly deserve.”
According to Saenz, he will summon ASO’s student court to decide on the fate of Aardema. It’ll be a public court to where witnesses, Aardema and Axelrod will be able to state their case.
However, according to Saenz, if the student court can’t come together, he will be the final decision on the matter.
“I’ll know Monday if the student court can convene,” said Saenz. “They’ll [the student government] decide whether she gets disqualified, the issue is ignored or if there must be a re-election.”
The one-day trial will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 26 in the Great Hall.
*Additional reporting by Gianni DiCrosta.
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afuller.roundupnews@gmail.com
Vice presidential candidate Lauren Aardema confirmed that she indeed wrote this Facebook message to Daniel Axelrod. Aardema is accused of stepping within the 50 foot boundary during the elections on Monday, April 19. According to ASO’s Election Timeline and Rules, “Campaigning can not take place within 50 feet of the polling areas.” April 23, 2010, Woodland Hils, Calif. (Facebook messge courtsey of Daniel Axelrod)
These are the rules and regulations the ASO must abide by in a election process. (Photo Courtsey of the official ASO Web site)
