Unofficial results show voters re-elected Democrat Colleen McNamara and Republican Don Nugent Tuesday to the MSU Board of Trustees. Their second unpaid, eight-year terms start in January.
McNamara, an Okemos native, received 26 percent of the vote and Nugent garnered 24 percent. State Sen. Joanne Emmons, R-Big Rapids, also received 24 percent of the vote and Democrat candidate Cal Rapson had 21 percent with all precincts accounted for.
But Nugent, a Frankfort resident, beat out Emmons by about 26,000 votes. MSU communication Professor and political campaign expert Charles Atkin said he expected Rapson to do better and said Nugent was fortunate to have won.
“If you’re a woman and a Democrat, that’s a good combination. If you’re a woman and a Republican, you’re at the low end of the ticket and Don is the board’s chairperson, so he had a lot of name recognition.”
McNamara said she was surprised with the results of the race.
“Well, that’s pretty tight,” McNamara said. “I can’t make heads or tails of this election. It seems like a lot of women came out and voted for (Governor-elect Jennifer) Granholm and then went back to voting Republican.
“I would’ve campaigned a hell of a lot harder if I knew how hard the Republicans were going to campaign. I’m relieved. I can get back to my normal active life.”
McNamara wants to concentrate on strengthening the university’s urban affairs program and keeping tuition increases at or below the rate of inflation.
Nugent said he was uncertain of his future on the board until Wednesday morning because polls showed him neck and neck with Emmons late Tuesday night.
“I’m surely honored to be selected,” Nugent said. “I look forward to the challenges ahead.”
Those challenges include battling the funding gap between the state’s public four-year institutions and maintaining tuition increases at an acceptable rate to students and parents, Nugent said.
“The number one goal is to keep the university financially sound so students from all over the state can come here,” he said, adding MSU might have budget difficulties in years to come.
Emmons could not be reached for comment Wednesday
But not everyone was celebrating Wednesday.
“I’m obviously very disappointed,” Rapson said, who was defeated for the second time in two years. Rapson has not ruled out running again in two years though.
“The vote was a spilt, and it was very hard to win a statewide election,” he said.
