ASUSU primary presents plethora of problems
With candidates dropping out of the election, campaign signs being stolen and close races being ran, the Associated Students of Utah State University Primary Elections have presented plenty of drama.
Two candidates dropped out of the race – one Wednesday and one Thursday, creating a unique situation for opposing campaigns.
Both Athletics Vice President candidate Tyler Olsen and presidential candidate Josh Cook cited personal reasons in dropping out of their campaigns. Olsen made his announcement on Wednesday, allowing opponents Jimi Jorgensen and Chris Sadoski to vie for the position.
In the race for president, Les Essig had 1,476 votes in the primary, with runner-up Cook garnering 534. After Cook announced his leaving the race, third-place candidate Brigham Rupp (426 votes) filed as a write-in candidate, assistant director of Student Involvement and Leadership Keri Mecham said.
Adding to the string of unexpected events of the election, early Thursday, seven candidates had A-frame signs stolen from around campus, Public Relations Vice President Ashley Stolworthy said. Spencer Lloyd, Panu Puikkonen, Heidi Evans, Elijah Bush, Maren Farnsworth, Mark Brough and Josh Cook all had signs stolen from different locations on campus.
Stolworthy said A-frames can cost up to $60 and take hours of time to create. She said she drove around campus at midnight Wednesday, and all of the signs were still set up. Signs were taken from in front of the Geology Building, on the Quad and near the libraries.
While there have been surprises and controversy through the first four days of elections, director of Student Involvement and Leadership Tiffany Evans said, more people voted in this primary than last year.
She said there were about 500 more voters this year than last year’s 2,500.
The polls are open until 5 p.m. Friday and final results will be announced at 5:30 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center International Lounge.
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