The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs has invited the 10 candidates running for two eight-year terms on the Board of Regents to participate in a public forum at 4 p.m. today (Oct. 25).

The event will take place in Forum Hall of Palmer Commons during the monthly meeting of the Senate Assembly, which will conduct other business for about 45 minutes beginning at 3:15 p.m.

Candidates will have two minutes to introduce themselves and provide an overview of their platforms. The remainder of the forum will consist of questions from SACUA and the audience. Candidates will have one minute to answer each of these questions, and each will be allowed to make a summary statement at the end of the forum.

The candidates running in the Nov. 2 election are: Paul Brown, D-Ann Arbor; Diana Demers, Green-Belleville; Andrea Fischer Newman, R-Ann Arbor; James Lewis Hudler, Libertarian-Chelsea; Libby Hunter, Green-Ann Arbor; Leslie Lazzerin, Libertarian-Bloomfield Hills; Andrew Richner, R-Grosse Point Park; Joe Sanger, U.S. Taxpayers-Lansing; Linda Schrock, U.S. Taxpayers-Tustin; and Greg Stephens, D-Dexter.

The Record contacted the candidates, requesting biographical information, a photo and a platform statement. Seven responded; their information follows.

Paul Brown

Party affiliation: Democrat

Website: www.paulbrownforuofmregent.com

Paul Brown works as vice president of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., where he manages the bulk of the state’s $2 billion 21st Century Fund, designed to assist businesses and entrepreneurs grow and create jobs. He is a national expert on issues of economic development, finance and access to capital. He also is a frequent speaker at conferences and has testified before Congress.

Brown began his legal career as a law clerk in Federal District Court. He received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from U-M, and a law degree from Wayne State University.

Brown was born and raised in northern Michigan. He lives in Ann Arbor with his wife, Nicole, and daughter, Frances. Nicole and Paul are expecting their second child this fall.

Platform statement: “I am running for U-M Board of Regents to address the two most pressing issues facing U-M and the State of Michigan: job creation and affordable tuition.

“U-M needs to do a better job commercializing its research and assisting small businesses and entrepreneurs.  

“Board members and administrators have failed to hold down costs and tuition. I will use my financial background to help design a budget that allows the university to bring down the cost of tuition while delivering a world-class education.

“I look forward to working every day as a U-M regent to ensure the university is affordable and accessible to every student and that it lives up to its potential as an economic engine for every part of the state.”

Diana Demers

Party affiliation: Green

Website: demers2010.spmichigan.org

Andrea Fischer Newman (incumbent)

Party affiliation: Republican

Website: fischernewmanforregent.com

Fischer Newman graduated from U-M in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts, with honors. She earned a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University in 1983. She has served as regent since 1995. Fischer Newman is an executive with Delta Air Lines. She also serves on the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and served six years on the National Advisory Committee for Institutional Quality and Integrity. 

Platform statement: “The two most pressing issues are the fiscal challenges that lay ahead and keeping the university affordable. We must make tough, strategic investments and continue to find efficiencies and strategies that lower costs and generate new revenue sources. Above all we must sustain and improve the quality of education while containing costs and maintaining affordability.

“U-M should continue to engage in economic development efforts with the state and local communities. Last year U-M made $1.1 billion in research expenditures, the vast majority of funds come from out of state — competitively won grants by U-M researchers. Additionally, $1.5 billion of ongoing construction supports 1,300 full-time employees. The new North Campus Research Complex site offers an opportunity to enhance technology transfer and business engagement activities. The long-term value of public-private partnerships is job creation and retention.

“It is important to maintain the rich and distinguished athletic tradition of U-M. Athletics contribute materially to the entire educational experience — the richness of student life, the admissions pool, the campus social fabric, and alumni financial support and interest.

“We are in a pivotal period of political and economic uncertainty. My specific business and fundraising experience positions me well to be an effective advocate to help meet these challenges.” 

James Lewis Hudler

Party affiliation: Libertarian

Website: www.lpwm.org/JamesHudler

Libby Hunter

Party affiliation: Green

Leslie Lazzerin

Party affiliation: Libertarian

Website: www.lpwm.org/LeslieLazzerin

Lazzerin was the first person in her family to attend U-M, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1972. She then had a career as a public assistance manager. She is a long-time volunteer at U-M, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Friends of Belle Isle and the Condo Board.

She has assumed U-M alumni leadership roles at the local and national levels since 1974, and has received the U-M Alumnae Council Service Citation and honors for U-M Alumni Association-Distinguished Service. She was president of Detroit Association of U-M Women (DAUMW), chairman of Alumnae Council and director on Alumni Association Board. She has been a mentor to student DAUMW scholarship recipients.

Platform statement: “I am running to focus attention on student needs, academic development and retention in Michigan following graduation.

“I support an Academic Bill of Rights for Students — protection of a student’s right to express themselves without fear of reprisal from instructors holding opposing political opinions.

“I also support reduction of fixed costs at the university — attention to the need to make new construction meet a multipurpose goal, where possible, and to reuse existing structures in creative and cost-effective ways.

“I seek greater links with the business community — encouragement for business to create unpaid internships for undergraduates.

“I support working with public schools around the state and creation of University Academies at high schools in each county of Michigan.

“I will devise strategies to retain university grads in Michigan — organizing alumni groups throughout the state to introduce undergraduates from outside the state to the advantages of making Michigan their home and place of employment.”

Andrew Richner (incumbent)

Party affiliation: Republican

Website: richnerforregent.com

Richner was elected to the Board of Regents in 2002 and served this past year as chairman. He attended U-M, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration, with high distinction, and Juris Doctorate, cum laude (Michigan Law Review).

He served three terms in the state House of Representatives and currently is in private law practice at the firm Clark Hill in Detroit. Richner is married. The couple has a daughter, who is a freshman in high school, and a son, who is a freshman in LSA, the fourth generation of the family to attend U-M.

Platform statement: “U-M is known worldwide for the outstanding depth and breadth of its academic programs, research pre-eminence and contributions to scientific discovery and innovation.

“During my eight years on the board, despite the state’s economic woes and a substantial decline in state support, U-M has: increased student financial aid to record levels; exceeded $1 billion annually in research funding; opened the first new residence hall in 40 years; enhanced faculty retention and recruiting efforts; received a record number of undergraduate applications; opened the North Campus Research Complex; operated a health and hospital system with positive margins; approved a new $750 million hospital; elevated its credit rating to AAA; built significant new academic, research and athletic facilities; and concluded a record $3.2 billion fundraising campaign.

“I will continue to focus my efforts on the board to preserving U-M’s academic pre-eminence and to striving for excellence, while seeking to maintain educational affordability and accessibility. In sum, U-M is doing exceedingly well with its current leadership and I would be honored to be re-elected.”

Joe Sanger

Party affiliation: U.S. Taxpayers

Sanger is a retired certified public accountant. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from U-M in 1958, and a Master of Business Administration, with high distinction, from U-M in 1966.

He has been married for 50 years to Gloria (Whyde) Sanger. They have one daughter, Sally Cangelosi, also an MBA graduate of U-M, and three grandchildren.

Platform statement: “In the autumn of 1955 the full-time resident undergraduate tuition at the University of Michigan was $100 per semester. For the 2009-10 academic year the comparable charge is $5,735 per semester, an increase of 5,635 percent. At the same time, the general price level as measured by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has increased from 26.85 to 213.2, an increase of 694 percent. The cost of tuition at the University of Michigan over a 55-year period has escalated at 8.1 times the rate of inflation — an astounding and totally unconscionable price increase.

“Program: I seek to restore financial responsibility to the University of Michigan by rolling back its totally irresponsible tuition price increases, by controlling runaway spending, and by seeking a comprehensive audit including its spending programs and grant billing procedures.

“Some proposals: 1. The University of Michigan can reduce overhead costs by operating on a full-time basis for three semesters per year. 2. The university needs to get out of the horse-and-buggy era and start using modern technology in teaching students at home and in large numbers to dramatically reduce costs.”

Linda Schrock

Party affiliation: U.S. Taxpayers

Schrock, 62, was born in Reed City. Her family moved to Ypsilanti when she was 9 because both of her younger brothers were born with medical conditions that required services at U-M. After graduating from Ypsilanti High School in 1966, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1972 from the University of Northern Colorado, majoring in education of the deaf and minoring in English. Schrock earned a Master of Arts in 1995 from Central Michigan University, majoring in English. She attended U-M for a short period. She also spent a year in England, attending a Master of Science program at Manchester University, where she majored in Administration & Supervision of Programs for the Hearing Impaired.

Schrock is a retired public school teacher who taught nearly 40 years. She has owned tutoring clinics and has taught several classes over the years as an adjunct at Ferris State University. A reading specialist, she soon will complete her first book, which is a manual for the rapid remediation of reading problems. Schrock says she supports Austrian free market economic principles and philosophies, and that she is conservative politically, financially and culturally. 

Platform statement: “Academic, research, scientific, medical excellence. Fiscal wisdom in financial decisions while keeping with the tradition of excellence at the university.

“I am concerned about the culturewide slide in academic expectations and standards, and I wish to see Michigan (the state) again at the top, as it was when I went to school. Michigan, California and Iowa led the 50 states. We can do it again. The University of Michigan can be the state’s role model to follow.”

Greg Stephens

Party affiliation: Democrat

Website: www.gregstephens4uofmregent.com

Stephens, 59, ran for the Board of Regents in 2002. He currently works as a business manager and financial secretary for the past 16 years, and has been a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 252 in Ann Arbor for 39 years.

He attended Chelsea High School, Washtenaw Community College and Ann Arbor Electrical Apprenticeship School. Stephens also was in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years. He has been married to his wife, Gail, for 40 years. They have a son, Jeremy, his wife, Sharon, and four grandchildren, Zachary, Megan, Hope and Scott.

Platform statement: “I want to make a University of Michigan education accessible and affordable for all Michigan students.

“The university must focus on making tuition costs affordable to all Michigan students. Tuition has increased 84 percent over the past decade. The university needs to find a way to manage costs in a way that stops this ‘automatic’ increase from occurring. My experience managing projects will help the university achieve this. I have managed large budgets in these difficult times and have been able to achieve outstanding results. I will bring common sense, middle-class values to the Board of Regents and restore the University of Michigan’s mission of serving Michigan families first.

“The university can lead the economic recovery of our state by partnering with organizations across the state, leveraging the vast knowledge and skill base the university has to offer. The university needs to work with industry to set priorities for faculty recruitment in areas where there is synergy.”

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