Results end in disqualification, appeal

A fire-eater, a remote controlled car and body paint on female students stand at the forefront of the highly contested seat for the Student Government Association presidency.

On Tuesday, presidential candidate Elliot Sanchez, political science senior, won the popular vote but was disqualified after SGA officials and opponent André Breaux called his campaign tactics into question.

Sanchez was up against Breaux, mass communication junior, after both defeated Bob Payne, this year’s vice president, in the first election March 20.

Breaux filed a series of complaints against Sanchez’s campaign citing the “blatant objectification of women through body paint.” Breaux registered his complaints Tuesday, and Sanchez was reprimanded and told not to campaign from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. when polls closed. Sanchez said he accepted that he was not to actively campaign after the sanction.

After a stack of handbills was found in the Danna Center, however, and Chelsea Mansulich, political science freshman and member of Sanchez’s staff, was seen wearing an “Elliot” T-shirt, the SGA court of review was called to evaluate Sanchez’s candidacy. Mansulich said she would not intentionally do anything to jeopardize Sanchez’s campaign.

The court ruled that “Mr. Sanchez has previously been censured by the commissioner, both publicly and privately … the court determined that the only viable option would be disqualification from the run-off election.”

Sanchez said of the stack of fliers, “I don’t know how it happened…none of my staff members did this. I spoke to each of them personally.”

Desiree Tirado, English writing senior and SGA commissioner of elections, filed a verbal complaint in the court against the T-shirt, according to Daniel Green, political science senior and current SGA president.

Breaux said he believes the court’s decision is the right one, despite the controversy it might bring to his contested presidency. “If you look at it as a technicality it might seem that minor things are upholding this decision … but any challenge will be taken seriously by the administration.”

Sanchez still maintains he ran a fair campaign and plans to make an appeal. “Every specific rule or sanction that was given to us we followed completely and utterly. Every time we were corrected, we complied with it as quickly as possible.

“While there may have been some miscommunication, I’m sure every thing will be cleared up in the official contesting,” Sanchez said.

The morning after the election, Sanchez and Breaux met with Marcia Petty, vice president for student affairs, to discuss the outcome of the election. According to an e-mail from Petty to The Maroon, Sanchez “expressed the desire to ‘appeal’ the decision by the student judiciary.”

Sanchez said he is contesting the court’s decision for a number of reasons.

“It’s not just one or two things, and I have the confidence that the process that is created will be fair to everyone and allow for the transparent resolution.”

Sanchez explained the reason for a transparent process.

“The last thing we want to happen is for people to feel decisions were made in a secretive, unfair or biased manner. We want to make sure that when this is finally settled all parties have been heard, all the facts are out and there is no question about why any decisions were made,” he said.

Breaux commented on the decision to contest the result handed down by the SGA court of review. “Elliot has every right to challenge the election. The court of review discussed this very thoroughly and very rationally. I trust that (decision).”

The process to contest or appeal has not been decided, according to Petty.

Greg Roskof, whom Petty said advises the student judicial process; Chris Cameron, SGA adviser and, Petty have “explored what other universities do in cases such as these.”

Breaux said no matter what the decision of the appeal, “I’ll know I’ve done the best I can and whatever happens happens. … For now, I’m going to hope for the best and try to catch up on my school work.”

A president will not be sworn in until the process of appeal is complete and the administration has made a decision, Petty said. Despite the delay in swearing in a new president, Petty said, “The declaration that André is the new SGA president stands, and Elliot has the burden of proof to present regarding his appeal.”

Sanchez and Breaux’s supporters debated the controversy among themselves on campus as the news of the election’s result spread.

“I would have preferred whoever won to be elected by the popular vote, but if he (Sanchez) broke the rules, then (it’s fair),” said Ron Worrell, finance junior and Breaux supporter, as he shrugged his shoulders.

Sammy Lawrence, English writing senior, expressed an intense regard for the rules. “This is an SGA election, not Vietnam. There are rules here.”

Sanchez received support from students who stood strongly behind him. Vedran Vuk, economics senior, said “It should be given to Elliot straight up.”

One Breaux supporter, Chanel Guade, mass communication sophomore, disagreed with the Court’s decision: “I voted for André, and I think that the results are ridiculous … it’s kind of funny,” she said.

Lizzie Ford-Madrid can be reached [email protected]. Tara Templeton can be reached at [email protected].

Andre Breaux, mass communication junior, was declared president by the SGA Court of Review on Tuesday evening. (Hilton Pittman)