Horizon candidate hopeful Chris Lange appealed to the Election Complaint Committee on Thursday in hopes of reclaiming his eligibility to run in the April 19-20 election.

The Vice President of Student Affairs office ruled Lange ineligible to run for executive vice president of Associated Students Inc. after turning in the required $50 check for the election packet just minutes after the 4:30 p.m. deadline on March 25.

At the hearing, Lange admitted to the committee that the check was turned in late; however, he blamed the lateness on refurnishing and painting that was taking place inside the Student Affairs office, where the packet had to be submitted.

“The moving of the Student Affairs office caused the confusion,” Lange said.Lange said he had to search for the new location of the office, causing him to arrive late.

Anica Montes-Acosta, representing the Vice President of Student Affairs office, testified that the time stamped on Lange’s packet was 4:40 p.m., 10 minutes after the deadline.

Montes-Acosta also stated that signs were posted around Lassen Hall, the location of the office, stating that the office had been temporarily moved.

Lange also argued that the election code, which sets guidelines for candidates, is vague in its description of the election packet requirements.

Much of the debate focused on pages nine through 11 of the election code, which deal with candidate filing.

“Nowhere does it state on page nine that the check had to be included with the packet,” Lange told the committee.

Tom Griffith, chair of the complaint committee, said that the requirement of including the check with the packet is stated later in the election code.

Other witnesses present at the hearing included Access slate candidates James Shelby II, Angel Barajas and Julio Velazquez, who testified against Lange.

Lange told the committee that those candidates were at the Student Affairs office as he was turning in his check and had harassed him, stating that he was late and therefore ineligible.

Shelby said the only statement he made was that the office should not be accepting packets after 4:30 p.m.

Barajas and Velazquez also told the committee that Lange was clearly late, after crossing paths with Lange on his way to the Student Affairs office on March 25.

“There’s deadlines and they should be abided by,” Velazquez said.Barajas, current ASI executive vice president, believes the language in the newly revised election code is clear.

Barajas said the newly revised code added disqualification of candidates if the packet and check are not turned in before the deadline.

The committee has 10 days to discuss the issue and vote on whether Lange can run for office.

If the committee decides he is not eligible, Lange may then appeal to the appellate council.

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Greg Hyatt can be reached at [email protected]