Democrats apply for 2 seats on EMU board

News Staff Reporter

A former state legislator, several Ypsilanti community activists and a former Eastern Michigan University regent are among candidates apparently being considered by Gov. Jennifer Granholm for two EMU regent seats that come open at the end of the year.

Although the governor's office won't say how many candidates have applied or are being considered, an area legislator and other Ypsilanti sources say the two regent openings have generated significant interest.

The eight-year terms of Regents Michael Morris and Rosalind E. Griffin expire Dec. 31.

Although the regent positions are nonpartisan, all of the current board members were appointed by then-Gov. John Engler, a Republican, so local Democrats are anticipating a breakthrough in the appointments by Granholm, a Democrat.

"From a Democratic perspective, it's our first opportunity in 12 years. There's a 12-year backlog," said John Hansen, a former state representative and retired superintendent of the Dexter School District who is interested in the EMU appointment.

State Rep. Ruth Ann Jamnick, D-Ypsilanti Township, said she was told eight to 12 resumes for the positions were received by the governor's office. She said she was asked to write letters of referral to the governor for several people interested in the regent openings.

Interim EMU President Craig Willis said the governor's office has not contacted him about the appointments, but he wrote to Granholm to point out that Eastern's African-American student population is around 20 percent and that Griffin is the lone African-American regent. "I wrote the governor that it's something that she might want to consider," Willis said. "I wanted to make sure it was on her radar screen," he said.

The governor's office will not release a list of the candidates who have applied for the seats, nor will it comment on the number of candidates under consideration, said Liz Boyd, spokeswoman for the governor. She said interviews are now being conducted and that it may be several weeks before the announcements are made.

On a related matter, Boyd said Granholm has not made a decision on a request by EMU's faculty union to replace Philip Incarnati, the regents' chairman. The request was fallout from more than a year's worth of campus turmoil stemming from the construction of a $5.1 million president's house and meeting center, which some campus and community observers said was unnecessary, too large and too expensive. EMU President Samuel Kirkpatrick resigned last summer amid the controversy, taking with him a resignation package worth more than $500,000. The University House squabble and exit package for Kirkpatrick led to charges by faculty members and others that Incarnati and the board of regents were ineffective in monitoring campus finances and administrative decisions.

Despite the heat the current regents have taken over the president's house, Willis said he doesn't expect any conflict between the old and the new guard.

"The board I see - the six remaining - I see dedication and interest," Willis said. "What I see is that they're looking forward to working with the new people."

Candidates who have confirmed their interest in the regent openings include:

nHansen, longtime superintendent of Dexter school district who served two terms as the Democratic state representative from the 52nd District. Hansen was an adjunct faculty member at EMU until six years ago. He said he was interviewed by Susan Corbin, the state's appointment director, last month. He has the backing of the EMU faculty union and lives in Dexter.

nTony Derezinski, who was appointed by then-Gov. James Blanchard to serve on the EMU Board of Regents between 1983 and 1996. He is director of government relations for the Michigan Association of School Boards. He was interviewed for the position in November, he said. He also has the backing of the EMU faculty union and lives in Ann Arbor.

nDoug Winters, Ypsilanti-based attorney for Ypsilanti and Salem townships who has been active in the local Democratic Party. He said he submitted his application last month but has not had an interview. He lives in Ypsilanti.

nIvan C. Harner, executive director of the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan, a lifelong Ypsilanti-area businessman and former owner of the Teacher's Shop and Learning Center in Depot Town. Harner has been a member of the Depot Town Downtown Development Authority for 15 years and chairman the last eight years. He said the collaboration between the city and university is important and can be improved. He said he was asked by political contacts to submit an application to Granholm but said he has not been interviewed.

nRon Miller, lifelong Ypsilanti resident and activist who worked in EMU's president's office until 2000. Miller, who ran the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival for a number of years, said has not turned in an application, but he said he is considering it.

Jamnick said she wrote letters of reference for several other area residents interested in the EMU regents position, but they could not be reached to confirm their interest.

Outgoing Regents Morris and Griffin did not return phone calls.

Once Granholm's choice for the two openings are announced, the names go before the Michigan state Senate for review. The Senate has 60 business days to challenge the nominees, Boyd said.

Members of most of Michigan's public university boards of regents are appointed by the governor. Only regents at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University are publicly elected.

Boyd noted that the governor is working on numerous other appointments in addition to the EMU openings. There are also vacancies on the boards at Central Michigan, Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Michigan Technological, Northern Michigan, Western Michigan and Oakland universities.

EMU regents meet at least five times a year and are not paid.

Janet Miller can be reached at jmiller@annarbornews.com or (734) 994-6827.

© 2004 Ann Arbor News. Used with permission