Junior public health major Mateo Llano has been elected as the new executive vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Montclair State University. Llano secured his victory following a competitive special election held from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the student-led organization.
The election saw a total of 810 students cast their ballots. Llano emerged at the top of the field with 322 votes. He was followed by fellow candidates Kariana Mora-Lloyd, who received 213 votes, Nicolas Cardozo Rojas with 206 votes and Mariam Kamladze with 67 votes. The final count included one abstaining vote and one vote of no confidence.
While Llano is now set to step into a high-level executive role, he admits that the path to victory was not without its challenges. Entering the race without any prior experience in the SGA left him feeling uncertain during the initial stages of his campaign.
“Honestly, starting off, it was really daunting to start,” Llano told The Montclarion. “I haven’t been in the SGA at all, I have zero years of experience in the SGA, but I have a lot of experience in student leadership here on campus, being an organization leader, being a part of the Bonner Leader program…”
Llano credited his extensive background in various student leadership roles as the foundation that gave him the confidence to pursue the position. Despite the nerves that accompanied his transition into campus politics, he emphasized that the backing of his peers provided the motivation he needed to push forward.
“Although it was scary,” Llano said, “I knew that I had people that were supporting me, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Looking ahead, Llano expressed his commitment to integrating into the current administration led by SGA President Ben Coulson. His primary focus, he explained, is a willingness to listen and grow within the new role.
“I’m just ready to learn, honestly. I’m ready to see what [Coulson] has in store, and just learn,” Llano said. “If I’m being completely transparent, I’ve never been in the SGA, so this is all new to me. But I’m really ready to start serving students and whatever they need.”
Llano’s campaign platform was built on accessibility and advocacy. He plans to prioritize student success by promoting leadership opportunities, fostering a supportive environment for newly registered student organizations and creating a sustainable framework to help new clubs flourish on campus. By maintaining a visible and positive presence, Llano hopes to bridge the gap between the SGA and the broader student body, ensuring that student voices remain at the forefront of his agenda.
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