Moscona, Foley face off Thursday
By JASON McFARLEY
News Writer
Two tickets distanced themselves from a field of six in Tuesday's 2003 class council primary revote, setting up a run-off election on Thursday.
The Brian Moscona ticket emerged as the leader yesterday, winning 32.6 percent of the freshman vote. Moscona and his running mates vice president Libby Bishop, secretary Alison Troy and treasurer Nick Mastronardi will face the Trip Foley ticket, which captured 24.2 percent of the primary vote. Foley's running mates include vice president Kathleen Hammond, secretary Emily Wolf and treasurer Jordan Linville.
"It feels really good to receive so much support, we're very excited. This [victory] comes as the result of a lot of hard work," Moscona said of the election.
Although Moscona is pleased with the results of the primary, he said he wished voter turnout would have been higher.
According to official election committee tallies, 62.8 percent of all freshmen voted in the primary. That figure is comparable to the turnout in Monday's vote, said Amanda Dovidio, election committee member.
Voter turnout first came into question Monday night after that day's primary results were declared null and void due to a balloting error. A number of candidates expressed concern that a revote on Tuesday wouldn't give their classmates ample opportunity to learn of the new election and turn out to vote in it.
Dovidio said the election committee worked actively to dispel this worry. She said much of the credit for the turnout on Tuesday goes to residence hall staff members.
"The dorms did a great job in making freshmen aware of the revote situation. We [the election committee] contacted hall rectors through voice-mail messages, and they, in turn, worked hard to pass along the information to the freshmen," said Dovidio.
The voiding of Monday's 2003 class council vote marked another controversial turn in a Notre Dame student government election. It came just weeks after the conflict involving the newly-elected student body president and vice president Brian O'Donaghue and Brooke Norton.
Dovidio stressed that Tuesday's vote was handled fairly.
"It was not just a quick, spur-of-the-moment election. Information was passed along to freshmen. Monday's results were thrown out, and the voting was totally redone. It was a fair election," Dovidio said.
While Moscona said the process of taking part in two elections was very frustrating, he echoed Dovidio's sentiments.
"I think [the Election Committee members] handled this situation in the best, most fair way possible," Moscona said.
The Moscona and Foley tickets will join the 2001 tickets of Rachel Gernerd and Elliot Nelson in Thursday's run-off elections. Voting times are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.
All News Stories for Wednesday, March 1, 2000
