Science councillor candidate Suman Bhamra was disqualified Tuesday night for failing to submit her financial statements on time. This leaves only two candidates left in the race: her running-mate on the "equity" ticket, Kevin Redmond, as well as Salima Printer.
There are two seats available on Students' Council. The election has been largely overshadowed by the WPIRG referendum; the science candidates have received little publicity.
The decision disqualifying Bhamra stated,
Whereas Science Council candidates had been given a copy of the Election Procedure on February 21st, 2005; and
Whereas according to section J.3 of the Election Procedure, candidates must submit a campaign budget and all of their original receipts before the end of the polling period; and
Whereas the polling period for the Science By-Election ended at 8:00PM Tuesday, March 29, 2005, and
Whereas at the close of the polling period, candidate Suman Bhamra had not submitted a campaign budget including her original receipts,
Suman Bhamra is hereby disqualified from the race for the Students' Council Science position.
This is not the first time problems involving financial statements have come up. Senate candidate Matt Austin was disqualified in the February elections for failing to submit his financial statement on time. That decision was subsequently overturned by the university secretary, who handles appeals for senate races.
The results of the election have not yet been released.
http://old.uwstudent.org/article.php?story=20050330080626359