MSA election results postponed
The results are postponed due to pending court cases based on fines.
Published Nov. 15, 2007
The results of the Missouri Students Association presidential election have been postponed due to pending court cases that could place fines upon a slate and potentially remove it from the election, MSA Student Court Chief Justice Drew Weber said.
Students and candidates gathered at 8 p.m. in front of Jesse Hall to hear the names of the students who would hold positions as president and vice president. But after a 34-minute delay, Weber and Associate Chief Justice Lucinda Housley said announcements would not occur until after a hearing is held. The hearing will not take place until after Nov. 25.
"The Student Court has decided that the announcements will be postponed due to pending litigation that could have ramifications on the results of the election," Weber said.
At the announcements, Weber said the fines could possibly remove a slate from the election. Each slate is allowed to spend $1,000 during the election, which includes covering potential fines, and must not exceed the amount in order to be considered for appointment.
Presidential candidate Dustin Barker said he and his running mate, Jessica Ekhoff, filed six complaint forms citing behavior they believed opposing candidates Jim Kelley and Chelsea Johnson had committed that violated conditions in the Board of Elections Commissioners handbook. Barker said complaint forms were filed on Nov. 13.
"Not all of the complaints were approved or verified," Ekhoff said.
Ekhoff said Kelley and Johnson's biggest potential fine is $75 for violating the rule that states no MSA auxiliary could support one slate. Ekhoff said Johnson had reserved a table for campaigning under the Student Fee Review Committee, of which Johnson was formerly a member, instead of the BEC.
Ekhoff said Kelley and Johnson also received a sanction for putting up a banner in the gardens of Conservation Hall without formal consent. Although the slate had received approval through e-mail to post the banner, they failed to formally file consent and present a signature confirming the approval, Ekhoff said.
Barker and Ekhoff said they felt BEC was doing the best it could with the election proceedings.
"They're in a very stressful position right now," Barker said. "We're kind of in the dark about how things are going, but we feel they're doing the best job they can."
Kelley said he felt he could not comment on the situation until seeing all information that had been filed.