2008 Woodie Awards
New ASU Prez Election Today
Hastily called presidential election to settle unfinished business already causing controversy.
Tammy Funicello and LaGina Phillips
Issue date: 5/25/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Students at Valley College get a second chance to decide next year's ASU president this week, but it looks like the troubles that plagued the first elections are resurfacing.
"We want to make sure the election represents the voice of the students," said Tino Manzano, vice president of student services. "We want to run this process fairly."
ASU Adviser Sherri Rodriguez used an executive rule to overturn the Election Committee's decision to disqualify Chavez and Martirosyan and appoint Park president, paving the way for today's election. Martirosyan appealed Rodriguez's decision to Manzano.
The ASU scheduled its supplemental election for Tuesday and today to resolve the complaints from the first election held last month. Today's candidates include Adam Park, Olivia Njuki and Nelli Martirosyan.
However, there are already new complaints pending against Martirosyan. Among them, student Joenaphan Jones said there was a "Vote for Nelli" campaign flier on his car in Lot E, a violation of Election Code Section 7, Article N.
Complaints are not considered official until evidence is submitted with the written statement. Jones claims to have digital photos of the violation, which he must submit within 24 hours to make it official.
Martirosyan denied the charges, saying, "I haven't put any of my [campaign materials] on any cars. I know better than that."
Martirosyan, the top finisher in the first election, decided to run again after the Election Committee disqualified her for violating campaign rules. Runner-up Theresa Chavez, who was similarly disqualified, decided not to run in the second election.
The conflict between the Election Committee and the adviser led to the resignation of members Jason Henderson and Jessie Salas. Henderson has since returned, making a quorum. The committee now consists of Henderson, Julie Cuna and Chair Ron Cabrera.
The four candidates in the first election were Martirosyan, who would have won the election with 322 votes, Chavez who came in second with 171 votes, Park, who came in third with 78 votes and was briefly appointed president, and Olivia Njuki, who received fewer than 30 votes.
"We want to make sure the election represents the voice of the students," said Tino Manzano, vice president of student services. "We want to run this process fairly."
ASU Adviser Sherri Rodriguez used an executive rule to overturn the Election Committee's decision to disqualify Chavez and Martirosyan and appoint Park president, paving the way for today's election. Martirosyan appealed Rodriguez's decision to Manzano.
The ASU scheduled its supplemental election for Tuesday and today to resolve the complaints from the first election held last month. Today's candidates include Adam Park, Olivia Njuki and Nelli Martirosyan.
However, there are already new complaints pending against Martirosyan. Among them, student Joenaphan Jones said there was a "Vote for Nelli" campaign flier on his car in Lot E, a violation of Election Code Section 7, Article N.
Complaints are not considered official until evidence is submitted with the written statement. Jones claims to have digital photos of the violation, which he must submit within 24 hours to make it official.
Martirosyan denied the charges, saying, "I haven't put any of my [campaign materials] on any cars. I know better than that."
Martirosyan, the top finisher in the first election, decided to run again after the Election Committee disqualified her for violating campaign rules. Runner-up Theresa Chavez, who was similarly disqualified, decided not to run in the second election.
The conflict between the Election Committee and the adviser led to the resignation of members Jason Henderson and Jessie Salas. Henderson has since returned, making a quorum. The committee now consists of Henderson, Julie Cuna and Chair Ron Cabrera.
The four candidates in the first election were Martirosyan, who would have won the election with 322 votes, Chavez who came in second with 171 votes, Park, who came in third with 78 votes and was briefly appointed president, and Olivia Njuki, who received fewer than 30 votes.
