The Joint Election Committee stripped presidential candidate Roger Kapoor of his victory Wednesday night, ruling that he exceeded the $1,000 campaign spending limit.

The JEC ruled unanimously that Kapoor used a Papa John’s pizza discount — which he received because he buys pizza regularly — to stay under the spending limit. JEC spending rules require candidates to document the “fair market value” of campaign goods, rather than the actual amount they spent.

Kapoor won 56.5 percent of the vote, and Bob Simon came in second with 29.5 percent. Dan Loren received 13.9 percent of the vote.

Evan McMorris-Santoro, campaign manager for Kapoor, said Kapoor will appeal the decision to the SA Student Court.

If the court does not overturn the JEC ruling the presidential election will go into a runoff election said Cathy Resler, SA executive vice president. Simon and Loren would face off in a run-off.

Although JEC rules indicate that Simon, the second-highest vote-getter, would be the next president with Kapoor off the ballot, SA rules require the president to win 40 percent of the popular vote.

The ruling removes Kapoor from the ballot and prevents him from assuming office.
The JEC’s decision came after about three hours of deliberation and testimony.
“It’s a fine mess,” SA President Dave Burt said after the ruling. “It makes anyone, including myself, nauseous.”