Two open seats are up for grabs: Trustee Dianne Byrum isn’t seeking a third term and Board Chair Dan Kelly, whose term is ending, wasn’t renominated by state Republicans.

Faced with relentless protests by students demanding divestment from Israel, scrutiny over its role in the Mel Tucker scandal, the lasting effects of disgraced ex-MSU doctor Larry Nassar’s abuse, and internal dysfunction, the board has often been embroiled in controversy.

In March, the board voted to ask the governor to consider removing two of its own members for violating university policies. 

The decision came after an outside investigation found that Trustees Rema Vassar and Dennis Denno interfered in university investigations and lawsuits, accepted gifts from donors and encouraged students to embarrass and attack their colleagues, among other things.

The candidates are well aware of the public mistrust of the board, though some are less familiar with the specifics of what caused it. Many candidates did not read the report that suggested Gov. Gretchen Whitmer consider the removal of Vassar and Denno, and some weren’t familiar with the details of other university issues.

Of the candidates that responded to The State News’ requests for comment, all want to keep tuition low, ensure student safety and promote transparency; most are ambivalent towards divestment and none support the removal of Vassar and Denno from the board.

Rebecca Bahar-Cook

Rebecca Bahar-Cook, a Democrat and CEO of a Lansing consulting firm, says she wants to bring the board together, increase student enrollment and lower tuition rates.

The former Ingham County commissioner and MSU alum says she’ll use her political experience to encourage collaboration.

Bahar-Cook is not open to discussions of divestment, saying the university needs to support Israel as long as it’s an ally. She does support the unionization efforts on campus, and said she would voluntarily recognize the unions.

While Vassar and Denno might have misstepped in their conversations with students, Bahar-Cook said, she thinks they shouldn't be removed because they “didn’t derelict their duties, they didn’t bankrupt the university.”

Mike Balow

Mike Balow, a Republican and parent of an MSU alum, wants to ensure transparency and promote dialogue at MSU.

MSU’s self-described “ninth trustee,” Balow is a constant presence at board meetings and university events. He narrowly lost the race in 2022.

Balow intends to have university staff reach out to everyone who signs up for public comment at board meetings to see whether MSU leaders can personally address their issues. He thinks trustees should be less secretive and hold meetings more often.

Balow says Whitmer shouldn’t remove Vassar and Denno, as their behavior wasn’t criminal and largely was well-intended, though he said telling students to smear their colleagues was inappropriate.  

He has been a longtime advocate for bringing back MSU’s dissolved swim and dive team.

Julie Maday

Julie Maday, a former Novi City Council member and parent of an MSU alum, says she would offer stability and promote collaboration to the board.

A Republican, Maday said careless decision-making by university leadership has put MSU in avoidable situations, like the board controversy, the ousting of former business dean Sanjay Gupta, and the cutting of its swim and dive team.

To ensure the university’s affordability, she wants to prevent “wasting” money on avoidable lawsuits.

Maday would advocate against transgender women participating in women’s sports “if it ever came up,” she said.

She says she is not informed enough on divestment to offer a stance, but is willing to meet with students.

Thomas Stallworth

Thomas Stallworth, a longtime Detroit lawmaker and Democrat, wants to make MSU more affordable and safe.

Stallworth, an MSU alum, says he would campaign the state government for more funding for higher education. 

He would try to reduce unnecessary spending within the university, namely litigation resulting from situations like the Tucker scandal, by “building a culture that rewards the appropriate behavior and punishes the inappropriate.”

Stallworth says he will ensure that MSU is continuing to follow recommendations for improving campus safety after the February 2023 mass shooting, though he was at first not aware that an outside review, which provided safety recommendations, had occurred.

While Stallworth is not yet convinced divestment is the path toward a ceasefire, he says he’ll listen to student demands.

Though he hasn’t read the report that recommended Whitmer consider the removal of Vassar and Denno, Stallworth says he hasn’t seen any "egregious" behavior that warrants removal.

Grant Baker

Grant Baker is a member of the Libertarian Party. Baker did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

John Sanger

John Sanger is a member of the U.S. Taxpayers Party and ran unsuccessfully for trustee in the past two elections.

Sanger did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Janet Sanger

Janet Sanger is a member of the U.S. Taxpayers Party and ran unsuccessfully for trustee in the past two elections.

Sanger did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

John Anthony La Pietra

John Anthony La Pietra, a member of the Green Party, works as a lawyer in Marshall.

La Pietra supports MSU divesting from Israel. He also wants to protect the free speech of students who are calling for divestment and anyone protesting “other genocides and assaults on peoples,” La Pietra said. 

He said he’d like to expand the MSU Extension program to further the university’s reach across the state, advocate for free tuition and better position Michigan against climate change by considering reducing usage of pesticides and expanding vegan dining options on campus.

While La Pietra hasn’t fully analyzed the report that recommended Vassar and Denno’s removal, he said he’s not sure if it’s a good idea to let Whitmer remove them.

“I’d be inclined to not let one public official override the voters on that,” he said.

A changing board

Candidates in this election have the benefit of distance from MSU’s troubled board as none of them have previously worked at the university.

Several voters told The State News that they’re happy to see fresh faces on the ballot, considering the university’s past.

“We're really close to finally getting to a point where there's no board members who were on the board at the time of (the Nassar scandal),” said Melissa Hudecz, an occupational therapist and Nassar survivor. “I am happy to see fresh faces and looking forward to what they can do.”

The desire to clean house at MSU may have cost Kelly, the board chair, his renomination.

Matt Wilk, a Republican delegate, said he didn’t vote for Kelly at the Michigan Republican convention in August because of his proximity to the Nassar scandal, among other controversies.

“At the end of the day, you were there when all these bad things happened,” Wilk said of Kelly.

Kelly, for his part, told The State News in September that being on the board during the aftermath of Nassar “certainly was not the sole reason” he didn’t get the nomination.

“So, could it have played a part? You’d have to ask every delegate that voted,” he said. “It’s speculation one way or another, but I stand by my record with regard to supporting … survivors and what they’ve asked for.”

This election could also change the makeup of the board in a different way: should the two Democrats on the ballot both be voted in, the board would be without a single Republican member.

That would be the first time since 1909 — when MSU’s board switched from being appointed to elected — that there hasn’t been at least one Republican on the board, MIRS reported.

Currently, Kelly is the sole Republican.

Administration Reporter Owen McCarthy contributed reporting.