Violations trigger re-election
By Danny Gillham and
Matt Potter
Staff Reporters

Campaign violations in the Student Government Association elections have resulted in a presidential re-election, fines and one candidate’s dismissal, SGA adviser Larry Markley said Thursday.

Markley said presidential candidates Jay Zeidman and Blake Eason, House of Student Representatives vice presidential candidate Megan Brown and vice president of Programming Council candidate Sebastian Moleski committed violations ranging from illegal use of materials to campaigning without appropriate approval.

Moleski, a sophomore international economics major, had about $100 left over from PC’s promotional campaign to bring a musical act to TCU in the spring. He received approval from PC to use the money to buy donuts to encourage students to vote, Markley said.

Elections and Regulations Chairman Nick James said Moleski will have to pay back one-third of the total cost of the donuts but will receive no other penalties.

Markley said Zeidman, a junior political science and economics major, and Brown, a sophomore political science major, volunteered to pass out the donuts on election day, violating TCU Election Code Section 3.11(C) and (I).

According to Section 3.11(C), it is a campaign violation to use illegal campaign materials or methods. According to Section 3.11 (I), handing out campaign materials on election day is also a violation.

Markley said both Zeidman and Brown must each pay one-third of the cost of the donuts, in addition to a $25 fine.

A complaint filed against Zeidman, alleging he campaigned early, was dropped during Thursday night’s meeting, Markley said.

Details were also released concerning the dismissal of Eason, a junior finance major.

Eason was removed from the race Wednesday after violating Section 3.2.12 in the Student Handbook, which prohibits unauthorized presence on university premises.

Markley said Eason, accompanied by his campaign supporters, knocked on doors in residence halls introducing himself as a presidential candidate.

James, a junior political science major, said Eason did not ask permission from hall directors to enter residence halls.

“The charge brought against Blake is more significant due to the fact that this is the third violation brought against him since the start of the election,” Markley said. “Also, he violated the rules of the residence halls.”

Eason received his first violation after prematurely announcing his candidacy for president Oct. 14. He also recieved a $25 fine for early placement of campaign signs.

Eason said he did visit residence halls the day of voting but that he thought he was not violating any rules.

“We thought we were doing everything right,” Eason said. “We checked the conduct code before we went campaigning the day of the vote, and we made sure we weren’t doing anything wrong.”

Eason said he intends to submit his appeal today and will meet with the Student Organizations Committee Monday at 3 p.m.

In the official results of the polls, Eason edged Zeidman by three votes, 798 to 795. The close vote would have resulted in a run-off, with the winner being decided by a majority vote.

James said after the SOC makes it decision on Eason’s appeal, a re-election will take place with all eligible candidates. The race could include Eason if he wins his appeal with the SOC, James said.

“I don’t know exactly how the re-run of the election will take place,” James said. “It all depends on what the SOC decides. We’ll have to work out the details then.”

Presidential candidates Jason Ruth and Anthony Oppermann finished with 382 and 353 votes, respectively.

In the race for vice president of House, Brown defeated Jose Luis Hernandez by a vote of 1,280 to 1,002. James said Brown’s violations will not result in a re-election, and she will remain vice president-elect.

Treasurer candidate David Watson beat Lena Strawser by a margin of 1,320 to 744.

Both Moleski and secretary candidate Corrie Lockhart ran unopposed and will take office beginning January 2004.

Markley said this is the first time so many issues have been raised in an election in about 15 years.
“The election code has definitely not been our friend this year,” Markley said. “When everything is settled, the election code will be revised.”