The results of this year’s Associate Student Body elections ignited controversy during the press conference Monday over an accusation that the incumbent Student Trustee voted for herself on a student’s Pipeline account.

A source, who requested to remain anonymous, claimed that Nicole Ridgell, the winner for Student Trustee, was campaigning by walking around with a laptop and asking people to vote for her on the spot. However, this student said Ridgell didn’t give them the option to choose a vote.

“She was in control of the mouse on the laptop and everything,” the source said. “All I did was log in to my pipeline account. Then I said ‘I’m not sure I want to vote.’ She clicked on herself and scrolled down and hit submit.”

Ridgell, 20, previously served as the Student Trustee for the 2009-2010 academic year.

“The fact that she hit submit for me is wrong,” the source said about Ridgell.

Winners were announced 2:30 p.m. Monday at a press conference in the student senate meeting room. A total of 621 votes were made online through students’ Pipeline accounts from April 26, through midnight on Thursday, April 29. Associated Student Body Adviser Dr. Ben Partee said the voting numbers are unheard of because most elections at City College have been about 200 votes total.

“What it is telling us is that students have a voice and their voice is strong,” said Partee.

The student trustee sits on the City College Board of Trustees, which makes decisions that govern the entire college district.

The race for Student Trustee was close with 300 votes cast for Ridgell and 243 for her closest opponent, Omar Espinoza.

When asked about the accusation Ridgell denied knowledge of the claims against her.

“I have no idea what student you’re talking about and I can assure you I didn’t do that,” she said.

Partee said in order for the Student Senate to take action on the accusations a candidate or student would have to go forth to the executive board.

But the topic wasn’t over for Ridgell’s opponent, Omar Espinoza, a 19-year-old local who attended Santa Barbara High School. Espinoza commented that his opponent sent an e-mail to Partee, accusing Espinoza of foul play in his campaign style.

“Right when the allegations happened I gave up,” Espinoza said. “I just lost total interest.”

Nearly facing each other at a long crowded table, Espinoza fired a few questions of his own to Ridgell, such as asking her what she would do for night classes.

Ridgell said she didn’t like grouping certain students and said she wanted to be the voice for the whole student body.