An important alumnus made a special visit during last week's Undergraduate Students Association Council meeting.
Current 16th District Sen. Dean Florez, former USAC president from 1986 to 1987, spoke to councilmembers about his past political experience at UCLA and answered questions regarding student lobbying and progressive legislation.
Alumni Representative Willard Tressel, who said he knew Florez for approximately 20 years, invited the senator to come speak to the council.
Florez transferred to UCLA as a community college student from Bakersfield because he wanted a change of scenery.
"I wanted to go to some town, any town that had a two-story building," Florez said. "Los Angeles was huge."
Once attending UCLA, Florez said he worked in the University of California Office of the President and was the Academic Affairs commissioner before running for the president position.
While campaigning as a progressive presidential candidate, Florez said he pushed issues such as affirmative action and student retention. He also said he was a grandson of farm laborers and never forgot to advocate on agricultural workers' behalf as an undergraduate.
Florez became the first Latino USAC president and said he enjoyed moving the student government council to be more progressionist.
Florez also said that he was well known for his battles with the UCLA chancellor as student president. He often fought for the increase of student diversity.
"I was a very outspoken student," Florez said. "I was one of the few students to ever get kicked out of the chancellor's house."
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science, Florez said he applied for a fellowship at the State Senate, and he worked in Sacramento for several years. Later he graduated from Harvard Business School and worked in investment banking.
Florez returned to public policy by first serving two terms in the State Assembly and was elected to the State Senate in 2002. As senator, he represents the lower half of the Valley.
The senator said that he still is outspoken and had similar disagreements with Gov. Schwarzenegger over the recent state budget crisis.
"Arnold and I have had public fights together," Florez said.
Florez said that USAC is the best training ground for politics because student leaders learn how to fight for their causes.
"Public policy is all about a fight," Florez said. "I hope you don't ever underestimate your power."
Florez said student leaders should also learn how to compromise as well.
Current External Vice President Jesse Melgar asked Florez how students can effectively lobby legislators.
Florez said that student lobbyists should not settle and be forceful and persistent because the legislators should work for them.
"You have every right to consider the (state) capitol your house," Florez said.
Cultural Affairs Commissioner Bernice Shaw asked the senator what progressive councilmembers can do for the student body.
Florez said elected officers should provide services and tell students what they do for them.
"You must be actually doing something," Florez said. "Politics is people-driven."
Florez said he will be running for lieutenant governor of California in the next few years. His mother, Franz Florez, the current mayor of Shafter, is also running for state assembly. Florez said if both he and his mother are elected, it will be the first time in the history of legislature a mother and son will work together.