Democrats, Republicans select MSU Board of Trustees nominees

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Four candidates are vying for two seats on the MSU Board of Trustees after earning nominations during state party conventions held Saturday.

Current Trustee Colleen McNamara and Dennis Denno, chief of staff for state Sen. Buzz Thomas, D-Detroit, each secured a nomination from delegates of the Michigan Democratic Party and will appear on the November general ballot. Former East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh, who in March announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination, did not earn a spot on the ballot.

In addition, former MSU football player Mitch Lyons and former MSU basketball player Brian Breslin — the son of the man for whom Breslin Center is named — earned Republican nominations. Current Trustee Don Nugent, who has served on the board for 16 years, fell short of a nomination at Saturday’s convention.

With a decrease in state funding for universities and increased tuition statewide, the candidates generally agreed the issue of college affordability will be the main point of contention before the general election.

“The biggest issue — it’s the elephant in the room — (is) settling on a level of tuition that we can comfortably go without getting outrageous with students,” McNamara said. “This is how we support and build a quality institution.”

Although Singh did not secure a nomination, he said he will support Denno and McNamara in any capacity.

“Universities are prime engines for economic development,” Singh said.

“(The Democratic candidates) understand the global stature of this university — that will be at the forefront of their agenda.”

Breslin, who once was a senior vice president of Meijer, said he will travel across the state in the coming months to ensure voters — and students — understand the issues and why he is best to approach said issues.

“I could bring a business perspective, (a) new set of eyes and ears looking at things operationally and how (they) function,” Breslin said.

“I have never approached anything just to jump in and thrash around — you have to observe.”

Although Nugent will not appear on the ballot, he said he might continue to work with MSU officials when his term expires January 2011.

“I’ll have to wait and see what is available,” Nugent said.

“The university has been one of the great loves of my life — I hopefully made a small difference one way or another.”

Current Trustee Melanie Foster said after the nomination process, she was not pleased with Nugent’s outcome.

“I was disappointed to see that Nugent was not renominated,” Foster said. “Nugent is someone who served this university for 16 years with the upmost dignity and dedication.”
During Saturday’s Republican convention and before delegates voted, Breslin ran unopposed on one ballot while Lyons and Nugent competed on a separate, incumbent ballot. Candidates have the choice of choosing which ballot they would like to run on, Lyons said.

Regardless of party, the candidates are urging voters to pay attention and study each platform before voting for the board positions.

“(Students) are a huge voting block,” Denno said. “A lot of (time) will be spending the next two months listening to students, hearing their concerns and trying to gain their support.”
Representation from young people within the state will not only be key to economic growth, but key to winning in November, Lyons said.

“A lot of Michigan residents are not getting into the school that mom and dad got into, and in a lot of ways, that’s killing our state,” Lyons said. “At this point, I don’t know all the interworkings of the budget, but I’m willing to open the hood and take a look at how we might do things better to cut costs.”

Spokespeople for the state Democratic and Republican parties said each of their candidates are MSU centric and well-qualified to represent the board.

“I think our two candidates have the values, integrity and the experience of education to lead the MSU Board of Trustees forward,” said John Tramontana, spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party.

Jennifer Hoff, spokeswoman for the Michigan Republican Party, said the party’s candidates’ experience and name recognition better suit the party to be in position to take the two seats.

“Our candidates have a long history in supporting the university,” Hoff said.

“They are alumni of (MSU) and they are helping it become world class.”

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