Dwight Ma (17Ox, 19C) has been elected the next Student Government Association (SGA) president after winning the run-off election on Monday. Ma received 1,380 votes (76.54 percent), while Elias Neibart (20C) received 423 votes (23.46 percent), according to Elections Board Vice Chair Andy Xu (20C).
Polls for the runoff were open from 8 p.m. on Sunday through 8 p.m. on Monday.
Ma previously served in Oxford SGA as vice president of Oxford SGA and freshman senator. This past year, he was appointed to Emory SGA as vice president of international student experience.
Neibart congratulated his opponent on his winning campaign in an interview with the Wheel.
“I want to commend Dwight for running a great campaign for his passion and his drive all throughout the year,” Neibart said. “I do want to wish him the best for the upcoming legislative session.”
Ma and Neibart were the top-two vote getters in the three-candidate primary election. Mario Karras (17Ox, 19B) was eliminated on Friday, after receiving the least amount of votes.
The run-off concluded a contentious election season which included an Elections Board hearing for allegations into Ma’s electoral misconduct related to drinks he had bought for other students at Maggie’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill. Ma was acquitted of all charges.
Neibart also was the subject of a controversy over his 2015 Facebook comments opposing same-sex marriage. In response to backlash, Neibart retracted the comments and issued a statement on his personal Facebook page. Neibart, who served as attorney general for the 51st SGA legislature, said he is still “assessing” if he will continue to participate in SGA.
“I do want serve the school and I do want to help in any way I can,” Neibart said. “I’m going to determine what’s the best way I can help the student body and student government moving forward.”
A run-off in the Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA) presidential election between the top two vote-getters, Sydney Kaplan (19L) and Sakinah Watts (19B) is scheduled from April 5 to April 6
Ma did not respond to request for comment by publication time.
Alex Klugerman contributed reporting.
Correction (4/2/18 at 8:41 p.m.): The article originally said that the run-off ended on Tuesday. It actually ended on Monday night.
Ma Emerges Victorious in Run-Off for SGA President
Dwight Ma (17Ox, 19C)
