LWVKA 2010 Voter Guide

Provide biographical information, including your qualifications for a seat on the University Board and the reasons you are running. (100-word limit)
What are the two most pressing issues facing this university today and what is your position on those issues? (100-word limit)
What role should the university play in the economic development of the state of Michigan? (100-word limit)

Andrea Fischer Newman
Republican, www.fischernewmanforregent.com

B.A., U of M, 1979; J.D., George Washington University, 1983; previous service as Regent (1995–present). Executive with Delta Air Lines. My business experience provides a unique perspective for the Board of Regents. I have been a champion for growing the endowment to make up for declines in State appropriations and cost containment for tuition. I also serve on the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and served six years on the National Advisory Committee for Institutional Quality and Integrity. I am running because the challenges we face will not be solved without fiscally responsible leadership.
Two most pressing issues are the fiscal challenges that lay ahead and keeping the University affordable. Since the fiscal outlook for Michigan continues to be challenging, 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 at the same time containing costs and maintaining affordability. One of the many ways I have worked diligently to see costs contained is the proper use of existing facilities. This minimizes infrastructure investments while maximizing staff and certain fixed expenditures.
UofM should continue to engage in economic development efforts with the State of Michigan and local communities. Last year UofM made $1.1 billion of research expenditures (growth of 12% over FY09), the vast majority of funds come from out of state—competitively won grants by UofM researchers. Additionally, $1.5 billion of ongoing construction supports 1300 full-time employees. The new NCRC site offers an opportunity to enhance our technology transfer and business engagement activities. The long-term value of public-private partnerships is job creation and retention, and this is one of my top priorities for the next eight years.

Andrew C. Richner
Republican, www.richnerforregent.com

Andrew Richner is deeply committed to University of Michigan, with UM degrees in Business Administration (high distinction) and law (contributing editor of Michigan Law Review). In 2002, Andrew was elected to UM Board of Regents and served past year as Chairman of Board. He has long public service history: elected to represent Detroit, Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods in State House of Representatives and Wayne County Board of Commissioners, and member of city council. Andrew is partner in law firm Clark Hill. He and his wife have daughter in high school and son at UM (4th generation).
With diminishing state support, we need to do everything within our power to assure affordability and accessibility of an education from the University, while not sacrificing quality and value. With our own son attending the University, I share the concerns of parents and students with respect to tuition and believe we need to consider alternative tuition models. We must continue to insist upon creating efficiencies in spending practices, growing fundraising efforts, expanding on federal research funding opportunities and looking for development of alternative revenue sources. We also need to address increasing competition for the best students, faculty and staff.
The University should and does play a vital role in our state’s economy. The University’s partnerships, collaborations and other interactions with business and research organizations not only further the academic mission of the University, but stimulate economic activity and create jobs for the people of the state. I have been a strong proponent for the University Research Corridor and the development of our North Campus Research Complex, both of which offer great promise in developing health and life sciences. The University now brings in over $1 billion dollars annually in research funding, which translates directly into economic development initiatives.

Paul Brown
Democratic, www.paulbrownforUofMregent.com

Paul Brown is VP of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Capital Group, where he manages the State’s $2 billion 21st Century Fund, designed to assist businesses and entrepreneurs grow and create jobs. A national expert on economic development, finance, and access to capital, Paul also has extensive experience in voter protection, constitutional and election law. Paul is a frequent speaker at conferences and has testified before Congress. Paul received an M.B.A. and history degree from UofM and law degree from WSU. He lives in Ann Arbor with his wife Nicole and daughter Frances.
The two most pressing issues are affordability and economic development. Tuition is too high. Board members and administrators have failed to hold down costs. Saddling our students with huge student loans is not the answer. I will use my financial background to help design a budget which allows the University to bring down the cost of tuition and deliver a world class education. UofM must become more focused on job creation and economic development. UofM needs to do a better job commercializing their research, creating high tech companies and well paying jobs.
UofM must become more focused on job creation and economic development. UofM has done a wonderful job attracting basic research, with over 1 billion in research dollars last year. UofM needs to do a better job commercializing that research, creating high tech companies and good paying jobs. Other universities have a higher ratio of research dollars to businesses created. The University must also incent its faculty to do more in the communities around the state. UofM has world leaders in finance, law, medicine, marketing etc.; these experts need to be available as a resource to our communities, businesses and entrepreneurs.

Greg Stephens
Democratic, www.gregstephens4uofmregent.com

I have been the Business Manager of IBEW Local 252 for the past 16 years and am a 39-year member. I am responsible for the jobs of 1,000 electricians in Washtenaw and Jackson counties. I ensure that members and their families receive excellent benefits. I graduated from Chelsea High School, attended Washtenaw Community College, served in the Army Reserves, and graduated from the Ann Arbor Electrical Apprenticeship School. As Business Manager, I resolve many issues related to construction projects on the University of Michigan campus. I am running to make a University of Michigan education affordable and accessible.
The most pressing issues facing the University today are tuition costs and the need for fiscally responsible budget decisions. The Board must focus on making tuition costs affordable to all Michigan students, so they can acquire a quality education. Tuition has increased 84% over the past decade and the Board needs to find a way to manage costs to stop the “automatic” increase from occurring. I have managed large budgets in these difficult times and have achieved outstanding results. I will bring common sense, middle-class values to the Board of Regents.
The University of Michigan should continue to partner with organizations across the state, leveraging the vast knowledge and skill base the University has to offer. The University has the ability to lead these organizations through this difficult time in the Michigan economy. Developing strong partnerships with organizations by engaging our interns, entrepreneurship programs, and technological advances can teach, train, and support our leaders in all of the strategies they need to succeed. The University needs to work with industry to set priorities for faculty recruitment in areas where there is synergy.

Diana Demers
Green
Did not respond in time for publication.

Libby Hunter
Green
Did not respond in time for publication.

Joe Sanger
US Taxpayers, votejoesanger.com

I seek to restore financial responsibility to the University of Michigan by rolling back its totally irresponsible tuition increases, controlling runaway costs, seeking a comprehensive audit of its grant billing practices, and by replacing ideological indoctrination with the teaching of knowledge. I have been married to the same wife for 50 years and we have three grandchildren. I have a B.A. and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Michigan. I recently retired after working for 40 years as a self-employed Certified Public Accountant. I have served as a volunteer treasurer of a number of public service organizations. See www.votejoesanger.com.
(a) In the Autumn of 1955 the full-time resident undergraduate tuition was $100 per semester. For the 2009–2010 academic year the comparable charge is $5,735 per semester, an increase of 5635%. At the same time the general price level as measured by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has increased from 26.8 to 213.2, an increase of 695%. The cost of tuition over a 55 year period has escalated at 8.1 times the rate of inflation—an astounding and totally unconscionable price increase! (b) Ideological advacy must be replaced by education. See www.votejoesanger.com.
Both Article III of the Northwest Ordinance and Article VIII Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan provide that: “Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” Since runaway courts have now unconstitutionally banned religion and morality from public life, the University’s remaining role is to provide, “knowledge”.

Linda Schrock Taylor
US Taxpayers
Did not respond in time for publication.

James Lewis Hudler
Libertarian, http://www.lpwm.org/JamesHudler/

I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan and have done graduate work there, at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University; I’m an alumnus also of Jackson Community College. I am a native Michigander and long-time resident of Washtenaw County, where I am employed by a large medical reference laboratory. I have served as advisor to University of Michigan College Libertarians. If elected I will emphasize free market policies and civil liberties.
The University of Michigan, firstly, must continue to reduce its dependence on taxpayer funding and should move toward becoming a private institution. The University additionally must guard civil liberties: it must favor free speech over political correctness and should avoid being used as an enforcement agent against so-called victimless crimes (such as tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use in private).
The University of Michigan should form partnerships with private businesses in Michigan and around the world. The University should offer instructional services and facilities for private enterprises. Reduction of administrative staff through attrition will reduce the tax burden on the state. Dormitory food services and like activities should be privatized. Advocacy of free trade, free markets and lower tax burdens for citizens and businesses will build Michigan’s economic development.

Leslie Lazzerin
Libertarian, www.lpwm.org/LeslieLazzerin/

‘72 B.A., University of Michigan—Ann Arbor. First in family to attend. Career—Public Assistance Manager. Long time volunteer—UofM, Detroit Institute of Arts, Friends of Belle Isle, Condo Board. Awards/Offices held—U-M Alumnae Council Service Citation, U-M Alumni Association-Distinguished Service. U-M alumni leadership roles at the local and national levels since 1974. President of Detroit Assoc. of U-M Women (DAUMW), Chairman of Alumnae Council, Director on Alumni Assoc. Board. Mentor to student DAUMW scholarship recipients. Running to focus attention on student needs, academic development, and retention in Michigan following graduation.
(a) Issue—Professors/instructors who impose their political biases on material presented to students and/or evaluation of students’ work. My Position—Professors/instructors must act like professionals in any other line of work, presenting data, argument, and opposing opinions on a subject. Students’ grades should not depend on their ability to “parrot back” the “correct” answer. Students’ intellectual development should be foremost, not demanding compliance with instructor’s political beliefs. (b) Issue—High cost of university education. My position—Fixed costs of a university must be better managed. Ideas “outside the box” must be considered. Encourage careful evaluation of need for new construction.
(a) Continue to attract research and development projects. (b) Foster greater links with the business community. (c) Work with public schools across the state to make any student capable of learning and succeeding at a profession, trade, job, or other career that will enhance the workforce of Michigan. (d) Do a better job of encouraging graduates to see Michigan as their first choice for employment after earning their degree.