Taco Libre Party
Micaela Montero Dokser, Treasurer candidate
Although she stands alone as the only candidate on the Taco Libre Party ticket, Micaela Montero Dokser is determined to change the way students view Student Government.
The 21-year-old finance junior, who also goes by Mica, is no stranger to SG, having spent about two years involved with the Students Party.
After being an active member her freshman year and a stint running for the Student Senate District D in 2012, she quickly morphed into the field organizer for business, accounting and sophomore seats in 2013. Last Fall, she served as the Students Party finance director.
Montero Dokser said she got involved with Taco Libre Party because she believes in bringing everybody’s voice into SG.
“This is fun, this is Student Government, this is college — this is supposed to be the time where you try things out and see how things work,” she said. “We’re taking it seriously. But, at the end of the day, every student has a right to do this.”
In addition to her SG experience, Montero Dokser has served as vice president, and vice president of finance, for her professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi.
Montero Dokser said she feels her academic skills, past Student Government experience and transferable skills make her a qualified candidate for Student Body treasurer.
“I feel like a lot of people may think that the treasurer is like the accountant in the back seat,” she said. “You have to know how to make tough decisions and be able to know when something is fair. I’m going to really take care of what the students want.”
John Bryan, a recent UF alumnus and former Students Party senator, said Montero Dokser is “tenacious,” and he believes she could be a fresh perspective in SG.
“She represents a fresh set of eyes,” he said. “There’s not a big minority or opposition movement this semester. I think that of the people that are left, Mica is a good candidate to carry on.”
Swamp Party
Cory Yeffet, President candidate
Cory Yeffet knew he belonged in Student Government the second he stepped onto the UF campus as a freshman. Now in his final year, he said he intends to go out with a bang as the Swamp Party’s candidate for Student Body president.
Beginning his SG career as a member of the Freshman Leadership Council, the 21-year-old economics and political science senior worked his way up by serving as a student senator for multiple terms and Student Senate president pro tempore before settling in as the current Student Senate president.
Yeffet, a Phi Delta Theta brother who previously served as the fraternity’s social chairman and internal vice president, said he thinks he can bring openness and transparency to the Student Body.
“I like to think of myself as a good listener — somebody who takes suggestions and makes changes with them,” he said. “I know that’s something students are always wanting and something I’d be able to deliver to them.”
Yeffet said because of his vast experience with SG, he understands how important the responsibilities of the Student Body president are.
“You’re the direct voice for 50,000 students … You’re the voice directly to the president of the university,” he said. “I want to be as effective as possible, to really reach out to the students. And when you have an effective individual in such a big leadership position, the opportunities are endless.”
Horace Tucker, the associate dean and director for the Heavener School of Business, met Yeffet when he was selected for the Florida Leadership Academy as one of the top 100 sophomores in the school of business.
He described Yeffet as “bright” and “driven.”
“He has progressed steadily through the Student Government system, so he understands how to get things done,” Tucker said. “He has the ability to inspire a shared vision.”
...
Vivan Nguyen, Vice president candidate
Vivan Nguyen has Gator blood coursing through her veins, and she’s determined to leave her mark on UF.
The 22-year-old physics and music senior and Swamp Party vice presidential candidate said her parents, who emigrated from Vietnam in 1975, met while attending UF.
Both of her siblings have attended the university as well.
Nguyen set out to wrap up her SG career after serving as the Swamp Party president, cabinet director for the Housing Affairs Cabinet and assistant director for the Gator Innovators.
Though initially intimidated upon arriving at UF as a freshman, Nguyen quickly became involved with Honors Ambassadors, where she chaired multiple committees and was elected to serve on the selections committee.
Those leadership positions catapulted her into SG involvement.
“I wanted to make an impact on a bigger level,” she said.
Nguyen, who is also a member of the Vietnamese student organization, said she thinks she fits the vice president position because of her widespread involvement at UF.
“My diversity sets me apart,” she said. “I haven’t worked with just one organization ... I’ve really tried to get involved with more aspects while I was here at UF. I think I have a good perspective on what students want, not just because of my involvement but because of my majors as well.”
If elected, Nguyen said she will be the first Vietnamese American to hold an executive office in SG history.
In addition, Nguyen sits on the Fine Arts College Council, serves on the Presidential Committee of Cultural Plaza Advisory Committee and sits as the Executive at Large for the UF Board of College Councils.
Kevin Orr, Nguyen’s UF piano professor, said that in the time he has known her, she has always been involved.
“She has always taken a proactive position as a student leader, whether in the government of her college or in service to the campus and Gainesville community,” he said.
...
Elliot Grasso, Treasurer candidate
Elliot Grasso has been invested in the finance aspect of Student Government since his first week of Senate when he landed a spot on the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Ever since, he kept his eyes focused on the Student Body treasurer position.
The 21-year-old finance and information systems and operations management junior, who has been rooted in SG since 2012, is hoping to combine his academic and leadership experience as the Swamp Party Student Body treasurer candidate.
“I’ve always seen the Student Body treasurer as a position that had the potential to do great things,” he said.
Grasso, the Student Senate president pro tempore, has served multiple terms as a student senator and a chairperson for the Senate Allocations Committee.
Many of his efforts have been devoted to the Inter-Residence Hall Association. Currently, he is the president of the Executive Board.
Grasso said that because he was involved in multiple SG-funded organizations, he can offer unbiased leadership for all students, despite organization affiliation.
“I’ve learned to be an unbiased leader in making sure that I represent all students fairly,” he said.
Christine Winget, the adviser for IRHA, said Grasso possesses the “know-how of budgets” from serving as treasurer and auditor for IRHA.
“He is organized, hardworking, builds strong relationships with others and communicates well about policies, procedures and information,” she said.
[A version of this story ran on page 3 on 2/17/2014 under the headline "Candidates for SG executive offices"]
Micaela Montero Dokser will be representing the Taco Libre Party as its treasurer candidate during elections this week.
Cory Yeffet, Vivan Nguyen and Elliot Grasso will be representing the Swamp Party as its executive candidates during Student Government elections this week.
