Forget the semifamous last name.
Detroit-based attorney Scott Romney, the son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney, might have had an edge in the race to become an MSU trustee even if his last name were Smith or Jones.
Romney had a head start on his campaign in the funding department, accumulating $118,211. But he says much of the cash is leftovers.
“A lot of the money that I raised came from the time that I ran before,” said Romney, who was appointed by Gov. John Engler in August to fill an unexpected vacancy. “When I ran for (state) attorney general (in 1998) I had some money left over.”
A vie for the GOP nomination for attorney general left Romney with disappointment - and a massive pile of fund-raising dollars, he said. Subsequently, his friends and family told him to keep their contributions for the next time he sought public office.
That day has arrived.
The incumbent is seeking one of two open seats on the university’s highest-governing body.
“As they suggested, I’m using that money for this campaign,” Romney said.
Trustees serve eight-year, unpaid tenures and are responsible for overseeing the budget, implementing policy and hiring the university’s president.
Also running in Tuesday’s election are fellow Republican and former Lt. Gov. Connie Binsfeld and Democrats incumbent Dorothy Gonzales and Cal Rapson, a United Auto Workers regional director.
So far, Romney has been working to get his name out for the general election. Although a recent poll commissioned by the Lansing-based newsletter Inside Michigan Politics showed Romney leading the other three candidates, he said he isn’t sure of a victory.
Because Romney said there is not much public awareness for the trustee race - generally considered by the public to be the least important race on the ballot - his campaign began running radio advertisements on MSU football game days.
As the election drew closer, his campaign launched statewide advertisements. The first aired Monday. And those working on his campaign are optimistic about the ads’ effectiveness.
“That’s been our whole concentration is on the radio,” said Val Tillstrom, Romney’s campaign manager. “That’s the purpose of raising the money, to be able to do these types of activities.”
Tillstrom said the 30-second spots can be heard on commercial radio stations from Traverse City to Marquette to Lansing.
“You name it, we’re there,” she said. “We run straight through statewide right at the end of the campaign. I’ve heard them, I thought they’ve been great. They’re getting an awareness out there for us.”
Romney’s cash accumulation and Binsfeld’s name recognition, some say, might hinder Gonzales’ and Rapson’s bid for the board.
But the Democrats aren’t discouraged.
Gonzales, seeking her second consecutive term, said money isn’t all that will decide the winners.
“I’m a very positive person,” she said. “There’s no way that I could raise that kind of money. But with the money I have raised, I’ll try to give the best that I can.”
Pamela E. Spencer can be reached at spencerp@msu.edu.
