University of Manitoba Students' Union/Sandbox
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During the 2006 general elections, it was reported in the Winnipeg Sun that Sran has previously spent time in jail for trafficking cocaine and various weapons-related offences.[1]
These press reports were published on the first day of voting, at which time candidates may not discuss their campaign with the media. This led some involved in the election process to speculate that Sran's history had been mentioned to the Winnipeg Sun in an attempt to prevent Sran from being able to fully respond. This raises the question of why Sran had tried to conceal his criminal charges and current parole status in the first place. The opposing slate also tried to use this information as campaign material but the CRO did not allow it until the final day of their campaign.[citation needed]
The behavior of the CRO throughout the campaign led one columnist to refer to UMSU as a banana republic.[2]
Sran's victory prompted increased media interest in the controversy. In the days immediately following the election, University of Manitoba Ethics professor Arthur Schafer charged Garry Sran should resign and run on an open record should he seek re-election.[3]
A press release issued by the Winnipeg Police Service at the time of his arrest in 2003 stated Sran had been charged with discharging a firearm with intent, mischief endangering life, possession of a prohibited/restricted weapon/ammunition, possession of a firearm/weapon/ammunition while prohibited, and careless use/storage of firearm/weapon/ammunition. Police also seized cocaine from Sran and his accomplice.
Drugs with a street value of over $150,000 were seized from Sran, his accomplice, their residences and a safehouse.[4]
Most of the charges against Sran were eventually dropped, and he was only convicted of one drug trafficking charge, for which he spent six months in prison and for which he is now out on parole.[5]
Sran has since claimed that he was "associated with the wrong people and it's something I definitely regret."[6], and has pointed out that "This incident was a defining moment in my life. I was forced to consider where I wanted to go in life and how to get there, so I focused on my education and became serious about succeeding. I was elected as the Arts Student Body Council president, served as an Arts senator, became involved with UMSU and completed my degree," [7]
The controversy appears to have had some effect on Sran's election results, as his margin of victory was smaller than the other four winners (all from his slate), but the 69% of the vote that he took was enough to give him a victory [8]
