Bilbao claims disqualification is invalid

Former Student Body President candidate Ron Bilbao argued to the Student Supreme Court on Monday that the disqualification and fines issued to him by the Board of Elections in February were invalid.

The court said a decision in the matter should be issued by the end of the week.

Bilbao was automatically disqualified by the Board of Elections for what the board deemed was a willful violation of campaign regulations on election day.

His campaign did not remove eight sign posts in a section of grass in Polk Place on Feb. 10 after being informed by board Chairman Ryan Morgan and Vice Chairman Val Tenyotkin that the location of the signs was in violation of election laws.

Bilbao's camp argued that the disqualification was invalid because his campaign had received approval for placement of the signs from a University official" Associate Vice Chancellor of Campus Services Nancy Graves.

""If she gave us consent to begin with" to me there would be no basis for the board to overrule her" said Bilbao's counsel, Garrett Haywood.

Tenyotkin said he urged all candidates to approach him first with questions regarding placement of signs and other campaign regulations. He said going directly to a University official was not appropriate.

The board contended Graves was not aware of election code at the time she issued the approval and that the board acted completely within its power in issuing the fines and disqualification.

He added that Student Body President-elect Jasmin Jones had called him the day before the election asking if she could place signs in the same location. He told her she couldn't, and she followed that guidance with no resulting consequences.

The candidate went directly around us"" Tenyotkin said of Bilbao's actions.

 Bilbao also contended that he received conflicting information throughout election day from Morgan and Tenyotkin.

He said Morgan first declared Bilbao disqualified, while Tenyotkin said later that his campaign would probably only be incurred a fine.

I told him there was a violation"" Morgan said. There wasn't enough time for the whole board to meet on the day of the election, so I made an executive decision.

Bilbao and his counsel also voiced their dissatisfaction with the disqualification process" although that point was not included in the filed complaint.

They alleged that a meeting" which took place immediately after the election results were announced on Feb. 10 was not professionally conducted.

Bilbao claimed he was told it was simply an ""information-gathering meeting"" when it was not clear to him whether it was an actual hearing of his alleged violations.

The board asserts that Bilbao was officially disqualified two days later on Feb. 12 at a public hearing, which he did not attend.

Bilbao said he was not personally informed of the meeting. Tenyotkin said it was publicly announced.

Along with the principle" it has to do with professionalism" Haywood said. The way the matter was handled was capricious and outlandish.""



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.