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Shakour wins presidential race; Traverse requests recount

Uncertified results show Shakour beating Traverse by 31 votes

Posted Friday, March 25 2005 02:04:17 pm

By Riki Parikh
Managing Editor

In one of the closest races in GW's history, Audai Shakour beat Ben Traverse by 31 votes for the Student Association presidency.

The final vote tally, announced by the Joint Elections Committee at 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, was 50.8 percent for Shakour and 49.2 percent for Traverse, with a margin of 31 votes between the two candidates.

"I'm completely surprised," said Shakour. "After seeing the paper ballots last night, I really didn't think we pulled it off. I'm just elated. I'm just glad for my team, I'm glad for everyone who came out to vote."

Traverse offered his congratulations to Shakour after the announcment. "It was very close, but the students have spoken," he said.

The JEC stressed in their annoucnment that the results were not final, and that pending Student Court hearings and further violations against the two candidates were still being heard.

"We're far from done," said JEC Chairman Justin Neidig.

"We'll see what happens," echoed Shakour. "We still have a long ways to go." Shakour and Traverse still have several complaints pending before the JEC, which will rule on them next week.

At 12:30 p.m., the Student Court, at the Traverse campaign's request, issued an injuction on the certification of the results until all matters are heard before the court.

They also agreed to hear an appeal by Traverse to overturn his sixth violation, which was issued by the JEC earlier this week. One penatly was issued after Traverse was found to have violated the JEC charter by promising allocations of funds to the Law School students.

Traverse, who will present his case before the Court on Monday, contests that such a violation infringes on his right to campaign.

In an interview with The Daily Colonial Friday evening, Traverse said he plans to request a recount.

Traverse said he is now looking for justice in the final outcome of this election. "We'll see what happens," he said. "The way the JEC and the Court should look at this is 'Did Audai get the majority because he broke any of the rules?' If that's the case, then he probably should not be the victor."

"It's not over till it's over," he added.

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