WILL SEBERGER/Arizona Daily Wildcat Alistair Chapman embraces a supporter after he was elected as ASUA president last night at the Kiva room in the Student Union Memorial Center. The ASUA election had Chapman as the winner over Josh Shapiro with 58.5 percent of the votes cast.

Shapiro to appeal loss to ASUA Supreme Court

CHAPMAN 58.5% ð SHAPIRO 41.4%

Alistair Chapman won the ASUA presidential election, defeating Josh Shapiro with 58. 5 percent of the votes.

Just a few hours before the election results were announced, Shapiro, who received 41.4 percent of the votes, filed an appeal with the ASUA Supreme Court, saying elections commissioner Dan Suh violated the elections code.

Shapiro said Suh attended Chapman's post-primary campaign party and failed to write up Chapman supporters who campaigned within 75 feet of a voting station.

In addition, Tuesday's ASUA presidential debate organized by Suh was biased, as three of the four panelists openly endorsed Chapman before the debate, or were affiliated with organizations that had endorsed Chapman, Shapiro said.

Greg Billings, president of the University Activities Board, and Melanie Rainer, executive vice president for ASUA, openly endorsed Chapman.

Jeff Sklar, a senior writer for the Arizona Daily Wildcat, also sat on the panel. The Wildcat's opinions board endorsed Chapman that day.

Saul Loeb, editor in chief of the Wildcat, said Shapiro's allegations were unfounded.

"Jeff Sklar has absolutely nothing to do with the Wildcat opinions board or Wildcat endorsements," he said.

Suh could not be reached for comment.

Although Chapman said he is ready to begin preparing for the transition, the validity of the election is still unclear.

Erin Borg, chief justice of the ASUA Supreme Court, said the consequences of today's trial will depend on the nature of the testimonies, and that she was unsure whether the election would be nullified.

Sara Birnbaum, executive vice president-elect, and Jordan Miller, administrative vice president-elect, won their respective races with 52.1 percent and 64.4 percent of the votes.

Birnbaum, who applied after the candidate packet deadline was extended, said the race was close and that all candidates were extremely qualified.

"Any way it went would have been a great turnout," she said.

Blake Buchanan, the other executive vice president candidate, said he was disappointed with the outcome, but did everything he could to win.

Miller, who was unofficially running with Buchanan, said the outcome was bittersweet, but that she is looking forward to picking great directors and is excited to serve next year as administrative vice president.

Clint Walls, who lost the race for administrative vice president by more than 800 votes, said he had a "blast" running and will apply for a student lobbyist position.

Students voted for 10 senators out of 19 senatorial candidates. Only 23 votes separated the 10th and 11th-place senator.

Four of the 10 senators elected turned in their candidate packets after Suh decided to extend the deadline.

Stephanie Hartz, who finished with 1,324 votes, the most of any senatorial candidate, said she was honored so many students put their trust in her.

"It was a pleasant surprise," she said. "I'll do everything in my power to come through with my campaign promises."

Steven Eddy, who finished in seventh place, said he can now relax, sleep and actually pay attention in class.

Fernando Ascencio, who finished 12th out of 19, said he was glad it was a close race but it was a hard loss.

"It's OK, I will still be in ASUA somehow," he said.

Only 3,603 students voted in the election, which is 195 students less than last year when a $1 KAMP fee referendum appeared on the ballot.

Last week, Suh said he was hoping for 5,000 votes in the general elections.

Shapiro and Chapman are set to appear before the ASUA Supreme Court tonight in the College of Law.