MSU Board of Trustees Chairperson Don Nugent announced Saturday he will run for a second term on the board.
Nugent, a Republican who owns and operates Nugent Farms in Frankfort and is a 1965 MSU graduate, said he has enjoyed his position at MSU since he was elected in 1995. Trustees serve eight-year, unpaid terms.
“The previous term has been such a rewarding term for me,” he said. “I believe that the university has made great strides in the improvement of our national rankings. The goal of keeping education accessible and affordable and of extremely high quality - we’ve made tremendous strides.”
Parties can each nominate two candidates for the November election. Nugent is seeking the GOP nomination along with state Sen. Joanne Emmons of Big Rapids, who announced her candidacy April 4 for one of two open seats on the board.
Democratic Trustee Colleen McNamara said in early April she also would seek re-election. McNamara could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Nugent said he would like to help add to the success of MSU for another term.
“I didn’t go on the board with an issue. I don’t have an issue today,” he said. “I do what I can do to make MSU the very best place it can be.”
Emmons said her experience in the Legislature during the past 16 years would make her a good trustee. Emmons is term-limited.
“I can be valuable in talking to the Legislature about funding for MSU and other issues that come up from time to time,” said Emmons, who graduated from MSU in 1956. “We needed to have another person on the ballot. It seems like a fit. There is something about being a Spartan. There is an ingrained loyalty that isn’t as strong anywhere else.”
Republican Trustee Dave Porteous, who resides in Osceola County, which Emmons represents, said he has observed the work of both GOP candidates. He said MSU attracts qualified candidates for its governing boards.
He said Emmons “has tremendous knowledge and understanding of state government.”
And Porteous said Nugent has displayed a strong commitment to the agricultural aspects of MSU.
“He has a keen understanding and appreciation for the significant role of agriculture in the state of Michigan and at MSU,” he said. “He has been a strong supporter of the tuition restraint and a strong supporter of the initiatives to do the major renovations.”
Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of the Lansing-based newsletter Inside Michigan Politics, said the results of the election are difficult to predict. He said the outcome of the Board of Trustees race could depend on the way people vote for other elections in November.
“It remains to be seen if it’s going to be a good year for the Republican and Democratic parties,” he said. “Nugent will bring a lot of experience that his opponents won’t have because they will challenge him. Emmons will bring perspective from the Legislature and from state governments that nobody on the board right now provides, which will be good.
“If one party or another is winning races, they will take all the parties on that ballot - whether they want to or not.”
Camille Spencer can be reached at spenc105@msu.edu.
