Elevation '05 sweeps election

The Elevation '05 Party swept the Student Association election this week but face charges of bribery, slander and perjury from the losing Reform Our Campus party.

The members of Elevation '05 elected to office were Dela Yador for SA president, Sonia Kang as SA vice president, and Mazin Kased as SA Treasurer.

Laura London, Peter Rizzo, Brittany Shapiro and Mercedes Tavarez were elected to SUNY SA delegate positions.

A low turnout of 1,577 total voters, which is less than 10 percent of the student population, voiced their opinion in the polls Tuesday through Thursday. Last year, 2,246 students voted.

As SA's president-elect, Yador said he was very happy with the election results.

"My first plan is to evaluate SA for next year," Yador said. "The entire Elevation '05 team is looking forward to a great year."

Kang said she was disappointed with the student turnout.

"Not too many people are aware of the election. There needs to be more coverage," she said. "The student turnout was very low."

Despite the celebration in SA's Student Union office suite following the announcement of their victory, and the fact that elections officials have finalized the results, Elevation '05 still has hurdles to clear.

Reform Our Campus members Francisco Baiocchi, Matthew Pelkey and Elizabeth Salzman have filed charges against Elevation '05 with the SA Election and Credentials committee.

"We've filed against all of Elevation '05, to be expelled from the election," Baiocchi said.

In response to the charges, treasurer-elect Kased, whom Baiocchi alleges tried to bribe him, has filed a counter-charge of bribery against Baiocchi.

The controversy between Kased and Baiocchi revolves around a taped conversation in which Kased apparently offered Baiocchi a job with SA next year if he were to drop from the election and turn on his fellow party members.

Kased said he sees no merit in the charges filed with the committee.

"I think it's ridiculous," he said. "It's unneeded, but some people feel like they're right. You just have to read the constitution."

According to Kased, the SA constitution considers both accepting and receiving a bribe illegal. "If it's so-called a bribe, he's just as guilty," he said.

The Reform Our Campus members are also alleging an illegal SA endorsement of Elevation '05 and slander both on the tape and during this week's campaign.

"(Kased is) saying things that aren't true to affect the election," Baiocchi said.

"I think it's important there be accountability and transparency in government," he added. "Getting this settled will only do a world of good for UB."

Kased said he feels the election was not affected by the allegations against him.

"Students who voted were confident in their decision. Voters know what I am all about," he said. "The polls increased even after the tape incident. I am going to continue doing what I said I was going to do and make sure the financial department is all good for the students."

"I can defend myself with the backing of the students who voted for me," Kased added. "I will not let them down."

Pelkey, who has also filed a charge of perjury against Elevation '05, said he was appalled with the student turnout for the SA election.

"I think many of the students felt that they had no reason to vote in the election," Pelkey said. "The entire election process needs to be restructured on how it is done."

Although the turnout was low, Pelkey said he was impressed by the closeness of the election. Each of the Elevation '05 delegates won by less than 200 votes.

"We captured the anti-SA vote," Pelkey said. "However, our main goal was to gain support of our message of change."

Both Pelkey and Baiocchi said they believe the controversy with Elevation '05 goes beyond the election.

"This is a matter of the student body," Pelkey said. "Kased is representing the students and is in charge of $2.7 million."

"His behavior was very unethical," Baiocchi said. "I urge anyone to listen to the tape. You will be appalled."

Joe Varghese, chair of the Elections and Credentials committee, said he is going to review the charges starting next week, but has no timetable to make a decision. If the Reform Our Campus members do not accept Varghese's ruling, they can appeal to the Student-wide Judiciary.

"I feel the complaint will end up at the Student-wide Judiciary, and if not I will file a petition within the week," Pelkey said.

News Editor Jeremy G. Burton contributed to this story.