The Downtown student government elections have been turbulent this year, but last week’s special election places a candidate who was disqualified and later re-qualified in the presidential seat.
Joseph Grossman and running mate David Barkadjiev won the executive seat over their write-in presidential competitors Andres Cano and Diana Inzunza.
Grossman and Bakardjiev took 53 percent of the vote with 211 votes, Cano came in second place with 154 votes and Inzunza came in last with 32 votes.
“I’m super excited to start as ASASUD president at downtown Phoenix,” Grossman said. “I look forward to working with the other presidents, and I’m ready make fresh new change.”
Grossman said that ASU’s Downtown campus is continually growing, and he looks forward to helping his constituents have a hand in shaping the campus’ history and making it successful.
Grossman was disqualified after the first election held on April 4 and 5 when he received a campaign violation that he maintained was false and reversible.
The Downtown election committee declared the first election invalid and later reversed the violation when Grossman appealed. He was placed back on the ballot for the special election, which was held Thursday and Friday.
Runner-up Cano congratulated Grossman for the victory and said he is eager to see Associated Students of ASU Downtown take shape and have a positive impact on the Downtown campus next semester.
“More than two weeks later, the voters have spoken and they have spoken clearly,” Cano said in an email. “Today is a time to celebrate. We need to move forward with making ASASUD the best it can possibly be next year.”
Cano thanked his supporters and those who were committed to the election and the future of ASASUD, a future full of change that Grossman said he is ready to make happen.
Reach the reporter at ktenagli@asu.edu