Hollimon ’12 attempted to withdraw from vice-presidential race

In the e-mail, which was sent Friday evening after the results of the first round of voting were announced, Hollimon told USG president Michael Yaroshefsky ’12 and his opponent Catherine Ettman ’13 that he would “no longer seek the office of vice president.” Yet Hollimon still appears on this week’s runoff election ballot.

Yaroshefsky said that Hollimon reversed his decision when he was told that Ettman would not have automatically won the vice presidency upon his withdrawal.

“He thought that by dropping out of the runoff Catherine would win automatically, but it turns out that wouldn’t really be kosher because Catherine hadn’t gotten 50 percent of the vote yet,” Yaroshefsky explained.

In the first round of voting, which occurred Nov. 22–24, Ettman and Hollimon received the highest number of votes out of four candidates and advanced to a runoff this week because no candidate for vice president received the majority of votes. Ettman got 931 votes in the first-round while Hollimon had 463. Had Hollimon ultimately decided to withdraw, Ettman would have faced Anthony Pappenfus ’13, who recevied the next-highest total at 415 votes, in the runoff.

“Austin can’t just give Catherine the vice presidency,” Yaroshefsky noted. “The guiding principle is that somebody has to get 50 percent.”

Despite his earlier e-mail, Hollimon said he was still in the race and actively campaigning.

“I have spoken with Catherine, Yaro and Tony since that [Friday] e-mail to clarify my candidacy,” he said in an e-mail to the ‘Prince’ on Monday, referring to Ettman, Yaroshefsky and USG elections manager Tony Xiao ’12. “So I am still seeking the position ... My ideas are all that matters to me moving forward, and my candidacy is based upon their legitimacy.”

Hollimon explained in an interview on Monday that his mistaken concession was the result of a misunderstanding of runoff election rules.

“I had confusion about what the election rules specifically meant,” Hollimon said. “I didn’t understand that it was just going to be the two of us. I sent the e-mail not fully understanding where I was electorally.”

Neither Ettman nor Yaroshefsky provided Hollimon’s concession e-mail to the ‘Prince.’

When responding on Sunday to questions posed by the ‘Prince’ about the runoff election, Hollimon did not mention the e-mail he had sent on Friday and said he would continue to campaign by focusing on the issues important to him, including implementing a University community service referendum, increasing school spirit and pushing for cable television to be included in room fees.

“I’m just going to continue to reiterate these issues to the public at-large and to my opponent,” he said.

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Ettman said in an e-mail that she will also continue to campaign, “but I look forward to the end of this election so that the USG can get started on the projects for the new term.”

In his Friday e-mail announcing his withdrawal, Hollimon also stressed his commitment to these issues and encouraged Yaroshefsky and Ettman “to at least pursue ONE” of his proposed initiatives.

He also expressed confidence in the abilities of Yaroshefsky and Ettman to lead the student body.

“Catherine, as I told you before, I like you, and meant it when I said it you’re a wonderful young woman and I truly hope that we can get to know each other as friends away from USG at some point,” the e-mail said.

“I think the both of you will make a wonderful team of president and vice president, and I know the work you will do will be for the betterment of our student body,” it added, referring to Yaroshefsky and Ettman.

Editor's Note: This article reflects the most recent information available and therefore differs from earlier versions posted throughout the day on Monday.