2008 Woodie Awards
Brown appeals election decision
SG presidential candidate fights against fraud finding
Brad Maxwell
News Editor
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News
Alesha Brown appealed her election fraud conviction before the Constitutional Council Wednesday after nearly 30 minutes of trial statements.
The four-person council said deliberations could stretch late into the night.
"We haven't come to a decision but we plan on having our opinion written by tonight and available at 8 a.m.," said Ben Ortiz-Colon, a council justice and first-year political science student.
Brown, a third-year political science student, was charged with election fraud Monday for raffling off a $50 Blackberry cell phone using "Vote Brown for President" raffle tickets.
The code the Elections Commission said Brown violated prohibits "procuring, by the payment, delivery or promise of money, or other article of value, another to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure at any election."
Justin Williams, a first-year law student, who made the case that a promise was not exchanged between Brown's campaign and students, represented Brown. Williams is Brown's cousin.
"Alesha would have gave up the cell phone, the student would give up the vote. That is not what happened here," Williams said.
He said the exchange was an "offer for a phone" not a "promise for a vote."
Chief Justice Cassidy Evans, a third-year international studies student, asked more questions to Williams concerning the value of the cell phone.
"That's why this case is before us," Evans said.
When Williams argued that many other candidates gave out candy and bottles of water, Evans said, "a cell phone is way more than a piece of candy."
Brown said after the trial that other candidates were raffling too. Former vice presidential candidate Chris McNamee, a third-year political science student, had students guess how many jellybeans were in a jar. The winner received a $25 Wal-Mart gift card.
"I don't understand the difference between me having a raffle and Alesha having a raffle," McNamee said after the trial. "Everyone gives something out in hopes of people voting."
The four-person council said deliberations could stretch late into the night.
"We haven't come to a decision but we plan on having our opinion written by tonight and available at 8 a.m.," said Ben Ortiz-Colon, a council justice and first-year political science student.
Brown, a third-year political science student, was charged with election fraud Monday for raffling off a $50 Blackberry cell phone using "Vote Brown for President" raffle tickets.
The code the Elections Commission said Brown violated prohibits "procuring, by the payment, delivery or promise of money, or other article of value, another to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure at any election."
Justin Williams, a first-year law student, who made the case that a promise was not exchanged between Brown's campaign and students, represented Brown. Williams is Brown's cousin.
"Alesha would have gave up the cell phone, the student would give up the vote. That is not what happened here," Williams said.
He said the exchange was an "offer for a phone" not a "promise for a vote."
Chief Justice Cassidy Evans, a third-year international studies student, asked more questions to Williams concerning the value of the cell phone.
"That's why this case is before us," Evans said.
When Williams argued that many other candidates gave out candy and bottles of water, Evans said, "a cell phone is way more than a piece of candy."
Brown said after the trial that other candidates were raffling too. Former vice presidential candidate Chris McNamee, a third-year political science student, had students guess how many jellybeans were in a jar. The winner received a $25 Wal-Mart gift card.
"I don't understand the difference between me having a raffle and Alesha having a raffle," McNamee said after the trial. "Everyone gives something out in hopes of people voting."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
David Ensor
posted 2/21/08 @ 7:41 PM EST
[QUOTE]"I don't understand the difference between me having a raffle and Alesha having a raffle," McNamee said after the trial.[/QUOTE]
I would like for it to be known that when investigating the claim that Alesha was violating the Elections Codes, I also saw Chris McNamee "having a raffle" at his table. (Continued…)
Justin Williams
posted 2/22/08 @ 1:46 AM EST
Mr. Ensor:
Thanks you for your service to the students of the Carolina Community.
I would only hope that more students would take advantage of the opportunity to be involved in Student Government as you have. (Continued…)
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