Wilson's first suspension appeal denied

The ASUA Elections Commission suspended Wilson's privileges to campaign for president from Monday at 10 p.m. until yesterday at 6 p.m., saying she violated campaign spending regulations outlined in the ASUA Elections Code.

"I feel his (Election Commissioner Anthony Hill's) decision to suspend my campaigning privileges was premature," Wilson said.

Wilson said Hill's decision was not fully researched and she was not given time to appeal the suspension before it affected her campaign. Wilson and her campaign staff could not attend speaking engagements, hang additional posters or banners, hand out leaflets or have a campaign table for the time of the suspension.

Wilson submitted a written appeal to the Elections Commission yesterday at 7 a.m. asking that her privileges be reinstated, but the appeal was denied. Wilson then made a verbal appeal to the Supreme Court Chief Justice and will submit a written one today, she said.

The Elections Code states that a secondary appeal can be made to the Supreme Court if the first appeal to the Elections Commission is denied. Hill said he did not release a reason for the denial of the first appeal.

Wilson said last night she was not sure whether she will request another election if the Supreme Court finds in her favor.

Hill said he suspended Wilson's campaigning privileges for the first day of the general election because quotes the commission obtained from various printing companies were not consistent with Wilson's campaign expense report.

All candidates are required by the Elections Code to submit expense forms to the Elections Commission that detail their campaign spending.

Wilson's invoice from In House Printing, 1701 N. First Ave., states that she spent $47.11 on typeset printing for 1,000 posters and $25.68 on 6,000 handbills.

Hill said Post Litho Printing, 1122 N. Stone Ave., gave him an estimate of $251 for the printing of 1,000 posters, $203.89 more than the In House Printing price. Hill did not have an estimate for handbills.

According to the Elections Code, no candidate is allowed to declare a discount for materials or services unless that same discount is available to all candidates.

In a memorandum suspending Wilson's campaign privileges, Hill said she surpassed the $300 presidential spending limit mandated in the code by $200 to $300.

Wilson's appeal to Hill states that the price of her printing was lower than other estimates because she went directly through a typesetting printer, eliminating the mark-up cost of a printing and copying vendor. She also said the cost was low because she used paper that she had on-hand before the election and only paid for the printing itself.

Wilson's appeal to the Supreme Court will be heard sometime at or before 7 p.m. Thursday, Hill said. He said he is required to submit a legal brief to the court by 5 p.m. today.