Mark Lombardi-Nelson and Christa Hegedus officially secured the Student Government president and vice president positions for the 2013-2014 school year. After weeks of deliberation between the Election Rules Commission and the SG Supreme Court, Chief Student Affairs Officer Julie Wong intervened with a sweeping decision on April 18.
Lombardi-Nelson submitted an Appeal for Righteousness to Wong on April 15, after a decision handed by the Supreme Court disqualified him from the race — for a second time. After reviewing the appeal, Wong granted Lombardi-Nelson the presidency.
Jimmy Richards filed a case to contest violation points assessed by the ERC shortly after elections ended. Instead of holding a trial between Richards and the ERC, the court held a hearing for Lombardi-Nelson to defend himself on April 5. In its re-evaluation of the Lombardi-Nelson/Hegedus campaign, the court assessed 33.32 points, as opposed to the ERC’s original 10-point assessment. The court’s ruling disqualified Lombardi-Nelson and demanded Richards be instated as president. Wong’s decision declared this ruling null and void with no opportunities for further appeals being granted.
Lombardi-Nelson addressed issues of due process and improper procedure in his appeal as he had done throughout the review process. Primary concerns included the delivery of grievances in a timely manner and the authority of the Supreme Court’s assessment of points.
“USFSP and its Student Government should be reliable assets within the USF System, and I intend to continue moving the USFSP Student Government in that direction,” Lombardi-Nelson said in his appeal to Wong.
In an email, Wong said she had to weigh in the “proper procedure and process according to the student government statutes.”
In a memo released on April 19, Wong found the court to have “improperly assessed points.” She referred to a statute that said the court can reduce, reverse, or uphold points, but only the ERC can assess points.
Wong believes this case will create “greater utilization of student affairs advisors during the election so the process is executed without controversy.” She also suggested “a review of the election rules and procedures to improve process and accountability.”
The April 18 decision resulted in the nullification of the Supreme Court orders and the granted the ERC power to certify Lombardi-Nelson and Hegedus as president and vice president.
“I now know what I will be doing for the next year,” Lombardi-Nelson said.
Consequences for the Supreme Court’s inaccurate filing of the case and improper assessment of points — as outlined by Wong — include the potential impeachment of three justices, Russell Heller, Graham Reybitz, and Kendel Mott.
In his memo for impeachment, Sen. Jozef Gherman charged the justices with malfeasance, or willful disregard of the statutes. SG senate responded by selecting three senators for an impeachment committee. The assessment of charges may not come for some time, as an advisor for the committee has not been selected and two senators elected to the committee will end their tenure at the end of the semester.
Vincent de Cosmo, head of the ERC, announced certification for the presidency through an email addressed to all SG members.
As a result of the controversy in this election, de Cosmo believes, “everyone will be more strict and on top of rules … especially if they want things to go the right way.”
The 2013-2014 presidential term begins Monday, May 6.
