Vis Lupi Est Grex

Senate Proves Hopeless With Elections Appointments

We reported yesterday that the ASUN Senate was set to play its part in appointing an ethically questionable candidate to the Election Commission. Last night, we learned from the Sagebrush just how bad things really are, and the Senate didn't disappoint--unfortunately. The Senate confirmed the slate of candidates, including consistently poor performer and censured for breaking the law Jeremiah Todd. (Thanks to Jessica Fryman for the great live blog.)

According to the Sagebrush's reporting:

• Tony Gallian, now Assistant Chair of the Election Commission, is a frat brother of Eli's. So no conflict there. Sean Driscoll, the Chair of the Commission said he would not be allowed anywhere near presidential ballots. That's good to know.
• Jeremy Jones, now Poll Coordinator, is a current front desk receptionist for ASUN.
• Jeremiah Todd, now Publicity Coordinator, also won't be allowed anywhere near presidential ballots because of his close ties to Eli. Absolutely no ethical problem here.
  
• Austin Davisson, now Ballot Coordinator, will also not be allowed to count presidential because he has ties to Todd, who has ties to Reilly.
  

On Todd, only two senators had the testicular fortitude (figuratively sepaking) to challenge Todd's appointment. Senator Erich Beyer and Senator Jessica Purney (she is up for reelection) voted against his confirmation. "Considering Mr. Todd did not complete the last assignment we gave him, I do not plan on giving him another one," Sen. Beyer said. Todd was appointed (to a nonexistant office) as tailgates chair by Reilly at the beginning of the school year. Apparently he had "family emergencies" and could not complete his tasks. Just add it to the long list of Todd successes:

1. Censured as a senator for violating the Nevada Open Meeting Law.
2. Did nothing as Eli's lackey on tailgates.
3. Got appointed to the Election Commission, despite epic deficiencies.
   

Or, in the words of one commenter on the Sagebrush's liveblog, "He got censured for violating state law? That's a success, right? A censure's like a commendation, right?"

Kudos to Sens. Beyer and Purney for evidently understanding that Todd should not have been appointed to the body charged with conducting elections in a fair and impartial manner.

To the rest of the Senate, shame on you for ignoring the ASUN law suggestion that states "[m]embers [of the Election Commission] shall be chosen on the basis of their experience, integrity, impartiality, and good judgment" (Election Code, sec. 2(a)(3). How many of you actually have read the Election Code?

Shame on Sean Driscoll and Eli Reilly, too, for ignoring this statutory requirement. You cannot have a fair election when those appointed to manage it have demonstrated ethical deficiencies.