Gianni DiCrosta / Roundup
The Associated Students Organization decided today to disqualify the winner of their vice presidential election, Lauren Aardema, after complaints were made that the candidate and her campaign violated election guidelines.
Two justices, Ralph Herrera and Jasson Jimenez, made the decision after the case was presented by ASO Advisor Brad Saenz.
The justices made the decision once presented with the options to formulate a penalty: disqualify the candidate, hold a reelection, or to ignore the infraction.
The disqualification will put Daniel Axelrod in the seat of vice president by default.
According to Saenz, Aardema’s election representatives were seen campaigning within the 50-foot boundaries of the polls, as set by ASO election by laws.
Aardema was said to have been passing out fliers within the boundaries.
Saenz stated that Sina Ghiabi Hesari, Election Committee Chair, reported seeing Aardema violate the election guidelines over 15 times. Saenz said he himself had seen three of Aardema’s representatives pass within the limit.
One representative was seen directly in front of the polling place handing out fliers.
Two poll workers also made complaints against Aardema’s campaign.
While Saenz said that there were complaints made against Axelrod’s campaign, there was not enough substantial evidence or visual confirmation.
“This ASO semester we had plenty of people breaking rules with no consequences,” Axelrod said. “I followed the rules. I understand she has complaints against me, but I was never warned by Brad [Saenz].”
On how to prevent future issues Axelrod said that “we [ASO] need to plant people at the boundaries who know the candidates and can keep them from doing this.”
“[The poll workers] saw Lauren’s people in front of the polls,” he added. “These things need to be addressed to Brad as soon as they’re seen.”
Several ASO members were shocked by the result, as only six members were present at the decision meeting.
Nick Naczinski, the newly elected ASO president, said “it’s just kind of shady to me. Lauren and Dan had no representation.”
“I think it’s ridiculous to leave it to those people [the student council] to decide who gets elected,” he added. “I’m really curious to see who these people are. I’ve never heard of them.”
“I was under the impression there would be witnesses or something. It’s not really much of a court,” said Alexander Tabolsky, one of the ASO presidential candidates.
“I saw Daniel at the polls with Sina [Hesari] for about thirty minutes,” he said. “I don’t have evidence, I just have a claim. But neither Brad or the advisors have her [Lauren’s] evidence.”
Aardema, however, has plans of her own.
“I’m going to appeal the decision,” she said. “I understand that one of the justices did not show up and I also know that one of the justices is a friend of my opponent’s. That justice should have recused or disqualified himself from the case.”
The ASO will hold a meeting tomorrow in the Great Hall at 1 p.m. to officially announce the disqualification.
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