Three former Associated Students Inc. executive candidates have endorsed current executive candidates John Haberstroh and Jonathon Bolin even as they faced sanctions prohibiting them from handing out printed materials until 8 a.m. this morning.
The Board of Elections penalized Haberstroh and Bolin for “excessive posting.” The running mates placed 500 door hangers across campus.
Still, former presidential candidates James Suazo and Nicholas Donn, and former vice presidential candidate Jorge Soriano have endorsed Haberstroh and Bolin.
“I love it. I think it’s great,” Bolin said. “We had a great relationship with everyone who ran against us.”
Haberstroh agreed and said that the former candidates endorsing him had similar campaign ideas.
Since facing sanctions for Election Handbook violations, Bolin said he and his running mate have found more creative ways to campaign and “think more outside the box.”
The running mates stood outside the College of Business Administration building at 8:30 a.m. and outside the Social Sciences Public Administration building at noon with painted signs, talking to students as they walked by.
Presidential candidate Stephen Thomas, who filed the petition against Haberstroh and Bolin, said that such violations are unfair to other candidates.
“My concern was that if candidates are going to break the rules thinking that it’s just going to be okay … and then just pay a fine, then that delegitimizes the integrity of the candidates in the election,” Thomas said.
Government Elections Officer Leo Palomera approved of the painted signs used by the duo Tuesday.
“Me personally, I would rather see people actually competing rather than trying to get each other on little technicalities,” Palomera said.
Bolin agreed.
“Our opponents are trying to complain about everything we’re doing,” Bolin said. “They’re not really focusing on their own campaign. They’re just trying to hurt our own.”
Former presidential candidate Elizabeth Gamboa said that she is not endorsing anyone at the moment, but plans to later. Former vice presidential candidate Priscilla Covarrubias did not respond to an email sent by the Daily 49er.