Cedric Bandoh will become Student Government Association president on Sunday. | Emily Chambers/The Daily Cougar
Although the Student Government Association Court of Appeals decided to disqualify four members of the McHugh-Aijaz party from the elections, it did not order a new election.
The disqualified students will be replaced by the candidates with the second-highest number of votes in their respective elections, said Chief Justice Taylor Kilroy in an email announcing the decision. Cedric Bandoh and Turner Harris received the second highest number of votes in the election for president and vice president, and Bandoh said he intends to accept the position as SGA president on Sunday, the first day of the SGA’s next administration.
“I’m very humbled and honored to serve the student body as student body president,” Bandoh said. “I can definitely tell you this is not the route that I thought I was going to go on to come to this position.”
The original disqualification by the Election Commission was struck down due to violations of the election code, Kilroy said.
The Election Commission said it respects the court’s decision because they are upholding the election code and the SGA’s integrity.
The unprecedented nature of this type of fraud and incongruences within the election code made the situation difficult to deal with, said Chief Election Commissioner Arsalan Razakazi.
“We did the best we could,” he said.
Although Michael McHugh could not be reached for comment, Cameron McHugh — Michael’s brother and the person who represented the appellants in the hearing — said it was good that the Election Commission’s decision was formally overturned, even if the students were still disqualified.
“It shows that there was bias existing in the Election Commission,” he said. “I think it was really unfortunate that the Election Commission was able to bypass some of the laws in the election code and disqualify the candidates based on hearsay alone.”
Cameron said articles printed in The Daily Cougar covering the election and accusations of fraud were biased against the McHugh-Aijaz party and influenced the justices in their ruling.
“I think it’s really unfortunate that The Daily Cougar went ahead and published an article about convicting the students before any evidence was presented,” Cameron said. “After so many weeks of the Cougar printing articles of this nature with no evidence or any support for its claims … I think that was just too much to convince (the justices) otherwise.”
The only evidence that was presented was two affidates and a witness. No other court of law could convict a person with such weak evidence. Also they admit that they had violated the election code over 20 times, how is that showing integrity. More like dumb kids playing politics.
Sworn affidavits, at that, and a star witness in James Lee who was able to implicate McHugh by name. You seem to forget last year, The Daily Cougar believed the court got it wrong. I don't think the paper could influence the court after questioning it's judgement last year; this was strictly decided on evidence.
Ugh. Judgment, rather.
Tell that to Jolanda Jones who was helping us on the house, in no court of law would accept the lack of evidence they have
Why would you bring Jolanda Jones to a school court? That's like having the county judge preside over an elementary school trial. It's stupid and ambitious; it's further proof of Michael McHugh's participation in electoral fraud — if he were truly innocent, why would he have to hire a professional attorney who absolutely does not belong in a school hearing counsel his defense? Hiring a lawyer over something like this is ridiculous.
The fact the election commission violated over 26 clauses in the election code, that they are withholding the evidence on us, claiming that they had video evidence when they didn't, and bringing forth a last minute surprised witness who you dumped, isn't something to be worried about?
She needs to know when to shut up as well and not call the chief justice a nazi!
She didn't, she compared the entire trial is similar to the nazis' way of doing it. Withholding evidence, lying to the public about video evidence, threatening to get them in trouble with the university. Pray tell, what would you do
to be fair, bringing jo jones (who's got her own ethics issues in her past) was a terrible idea. the trial strategy was further proof that she's a shoddy lawyer. what exactly was the purpose of wasting most of her time by interrogating a DC editor when her opinions and paper had literally nothing to do with the appeal?
also, derar, it's not "us." you lost. you weren't part of the appeal. apparently, they realized you weren't even worth cheating for.
Because they didn't cheat
Derar, you are showing how you would have not done due diligence in your capacity as a would-be Senator. Have you NOT read the verdict. The court did not, in fact, accept the evidence of the Election Commission. They overturned the original ruling. Yay for you…
…but then, the evidence DID show they DID cheat. McHugh tried to fight in court on grounds of 26 violations, but never in defense of their innocence. It's funny you didn't recognize that.
The evidence they presented was a witness and two pieces of paper. All they did in there ruling was lied about overturning their original decision. They carried it out
What I don't get is "WHY ON EARTH WOULD MICHAEL WANT TO CHEAT?" He killed everyone else in the race. I understand why those other 2 would… http://sga.uh.edu/images/elections/SGA%20Spring%2…
Could they really cheat 100+ votes? http://sga.uh.edu/images/elections/2012_RUN-OFF_r…
They could have gave them a re-election, at least. How is this a "strained election season?" http://sga.uh.edu/
Something's very fishy. Having Jolanda Jones hurt Michael's case thought.
Two things:
a) the number of votes they cheated to get is irrelevant. If they cheated for one vote, then they deserved what the court gave them.
b) mchugh probably thinks he got cheated out of the presidency last year when they didn't DQ harding. he wanted to make sure that he got it this time, even if he had to cheat to do so.
I was there the whole time, you werent. Plus, u dont understand politics lil kid. u r a failure at business, talking and horrible at geography. Go work on those things b4 u comment here again!
Who are you?
The fact that you say I do not understand politics and business shows what little you know about me or what I know. I would honestly say that you are someone at REDvoultion party ro a supporter who wants nothing more to kick me out because I happen to disagree with you
LOL, I am almost hoping Derar runs in 2013 so I can donate money to his opponents.
I will run again, and at least you are honest enough to post your name
I am not afraid to be honest. I am considering a run myself.
There is significant evidence if you consider the technological aspects of this case. Items such as the server log containging ip addresses used to log on and cast votes, Facebook Messages (which are actually never “deleted”). They left a digital “paper trail” without even knowing. Idiots.
I covered SGA last year for the daily cougar and I have to say the organization as a whole is a joke. Its hard to believe that the university is giving these students any kind of power. with that said i do remember cedric and he did seem to be one of the bright spots in the whole thing partly because he seemed pretty genuine, so hopefully he can turn it around.
The whole situation is sad and pathetic. Its just a lowly college student body election. Get a life people.
Chester the Chicken for president next election cycle. It's happening.
Knowing the next administration is still going forward with strong leadership helps me to feel better for the coming year. I will do my best as a Senator to support the needs of the student body and when appropriate support the administration. I look forward to another year as a Senator.
How about NEW elections? Ah, right. That’s too much common sense for UH.