ASLC election results-contested
Elections committee seeks resolution
Semaj D. La Niger
Issue date: 5/22/08 Last update: 5/25/08 at 1:53 PM PST
Section: News
Despite alleged violations of the Peralta District's election code, a three-week postponement, and recent accusations of "corruption" by one presidential candidate, the Associated Students of Laney College (ASLC) elections took place May 6-7 in the Laney Student Center.
Initially the elections were planned for April 16-17, but upon learning of violations and inconsistencies district-wide in the elections process, Chancellor Elihu Harris postponed the elections. The Peralta Board of Trustees at their April 22 regular meeting ratified his decision.
Xing Xu, the current ASLC Publicity Commissioner bested Reza Mohajerinejad (Nejad) for the position of ASLC President by a mere 160 to 140.
ASLC Treasurer Mario Villegas, who neither attending the ASLC candidates forum nor responded to the Tower's election questionnaire, received 153 votes for Vice-President. He ran unopposed.
ASLC Senator and Puente President Courtney Hom, who also ran unopposed, received 162 votes. Current ASLC Senators David Lui, Valeska Hildalgo, and Hai Feng Zhou, who were appointed as senators earlier this academic year, were elected to three of the six open senate seats. Lui received 100 votes, Hildalgo 91, and Zhou 94. There were no candidates for publicity commissioner.
Write-in candidates and current ASLC Senators, Moustapha Adoum who ran for treasurer, and ASLC Senator Donna Watson did not receive the required 50 votes needed for write-in candidates to qualify. Although both had declared their write-in candidacies for office for the April election, they were still forced to run as write-in candidates.
"Obviously there was confusion," said Harris in response to inquiries as to why students were unable to be included on the ballot, and this year's elections in general. "And the people who were responsible for conducting the elections didn't bother to ask."
"Regardless, the election results stand," added Harris.
Nejad thinks differently.
Nejad, in an open letter to ASLC Adviser and Laney Student Activities Director Algeria Kirven on May 9, requested "a recount of the votes in light of irregularities surrounding the elections."
Initially the elections were planned for April 16-17, but upon learning of violations and inconsistencies district-wide in the elections process, Chancellor Elihu Harris postponed the elections. The Peralta Board of Trustees at their April 22 regular meeting ratified his decision.
Xing Xu, the current ASLC Publicity Commissioner bested Reza Mohajerinejad (Nejad) for the position of ASLC President by a mere 160 to 140.
ASLC Treasurer Mario Villegas, who neither attending the ASLC candidates forum nor responded to the Tower's election questionnaire, received 153 votes for Vice-President. He ran unopposed.
ASLC Senator and Puente President Courtney Hom, who also ran unopposed, received 162 votes. Current ASLC Senators David Lui, Valeska Hildalgo, and Hai Feng Zhou, who were appointed as senators earlier this academic year, were elected to three of the six open senate seats. Lui received 100 votes, Hildalgo 91, and Zhou 94. There were no candidates for publicity commissioner.
Write-in candidates and current ASLC Senators, Moustapha Adoum who ran for treasurer, and ASLC Senator Donna Watson did not receive the required 50 votes needed for write-in candidates to qualify. Although both had declared their write-in candidacies for office for the April election, they were still forced to run as write-in candidates.
"Obviously there was confusion," said Harris in response to inquiries as to why students were unable to be included on the ballot, and this year's elections in general. "And the people who were responsible for conducting the elections didn't bother to ask."
"Regardless, the election results stand," added Harris.
Nejad thinks differently.
Nejad, in an open letter to ASLC Adviser and Laney Student Activities Director Algeria Kirven on May 9, requested "a recount of the votes in light of irregularities surrounding the elections."
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