The Leader

Prahl [Click to enlarge]

Ohler [Click to enlarge]

The head of the Student Association Independent Elections Commission (IEC), Cassandra Gauthier, threw Milwaukee Party (MKE) presidential and vice presidential candidates Chris Larson and Annya Robertson off the ballot April 10 for using illegal signature sheets, leaving three other official candidate teams in the running for the Student Association's top posts.

Samantha Prahl and Jon Tingley, of United Student Voice; Joseph Ohler and Kevin O'Connor, of the Alternative Party; and Carlo Albano and Madeline Martin, Independent, will join 68 senate candidates and a series of referendums on the ballot April 26 and 27.

Larson was surprised to hear about Gauthier's decision and said it would definitely effect the investigation into Gauthier's alleged bias.

"We'll try and appeal, but we hold very little hope since she's not independent," Larson said. "Maybe we'll appeal it to the court which coincidentally doesn't exist. I just wish, when we asked to meet with her to make sure something like this didn't happen, she would have taken the meeting instead of spending the time in [Prahl's] office."

Gauthier said six senators in total and the MKE presidential ticket were removed for failing to follow IEC bylaws. Larson and Robertson were thrown off the ballot because they did not turn in the necessary signature sheets with the IEC stamp at the bottom, meaning the party could have been collecting signature before the allowable date.

"They did not follow the proper procedures and did not comply with the rules," Gauthier said. "It was explicit in the instructions...to make it an even playing field. I'm trying to make sure this election is fair."

Gauthier said the decision was not easy, but added it was obvious MKE had used the wrong sheets. Gauthier said the Student Activities Office, which distributes the forms, could not have given them the wrong ones and questioned why Larson and others were accusing her of being biased.

"I don't really know why they are doing it," Gauthier said in response to the investigation launched against her at a recent SA senate meeting. "I don't know on what grounds they feel there is to file an investigation. This is a tough job, but I am excited for the election as long as everyone runs fairly."

Gauthier encouraged Larson to file an appeal with the IEC, but some MKE candidates were left questioning if the appeal would be heard in time to be on the ballot. Larson said that MKE would run as a write-in candidate if necessary.

Albano and Martin could not be reached for comment.

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