At least 9 expected to vie for terms on the University of Michigan Board of Regents

The list of candidates is expected to be rounded out later this month, following the nominating conventions for the Democratic and Republican parties.

The candidates are vying for a chance to serve on the eight-member board that oversees the $5.8 billion a year operation that includes U-M and the U-M Health System in Ann Arbor. Regents are elected to eight-year terms and meet once a month.

Both Newman and Richner are expected to be nominated by state Republicans when they convene Aug. 28 at Michigan State University's Jack Breslin Student Event Center, a party spokesperson said. No challengers are being presented from the GOP side.

State Democrats will announce at least two candidates after their nominating convention Aug. 28 at Cobo Center in Detroit, a party spokesman said, declining to name them. Two Democrats have put their name in the hat so far, though more candidates could be considered at the convention.

Candidates from other parties include:

• Joe Sanger, 72, of Lansing, U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan.
• Leslie Lazzerin, 68, of Bloomfield, Libertarian.
• Linda Schrock Taylor, 62, of Tustin, U.S. Constitution Party.
• William Hard, 49, of Freeland, potentially running as a Tea Party candidate.
• Libby Hunter, 60, of Ann Arbor, Green Party.
• Diana Demers, 28, of Belleville, Green Party.
• James Hudler, 58, of Chelsea, Libertarian.

Richner, Hard, Hunter, Demers and Hudler couldn't be reached for comment.

Several others cited the high cost of tuition as a factor in their bids for seats.

Newman, 52, of Ann Arbor, is the senior vice president for government relations at Delta Airlines. Reached by e-mail on vacation this week, she said she brings to the table “fiscal discipline at a budgetary level, focusing on minimizing tuition costs, assuring continued academic excellence and support for increasing research activity and grants.”

She also supports U-M’s focus on fundraising to build the endowment. Newman said she’d like to ensure future leadership reflects high standards of integrity and professionalism. Future goals include a focus on long-term financial sustainability in light of declining state revenue.

Sanger, a retired accountant, said it bothers him that tuition has increased at a rate far higher than inflation.

“Tuition increases over the past 50 years have enormously exceeded the rate of inflation,” he said. “I believe that’s totally unconscionable.”

Lazzerin wants to cut costs, slow building projects and lower tuition.

“I believe in their principles of small government and cutting costs,” Lazzerin said. “Cutting costs is pretty much the reason I would like to serve in that capacity. What I’m thinking of specifically are students who walk away from the ‘U’ with a BA and $80,000 worth of debt.”

Schrock Taylor, a retired teacher and business owner, said her focus as regent would be on improving literacy. A poorly written letter she received from a U-M-educated medical professional led to her candidacy, she said.

“If the general ability to express oneself in standard and above standard English is not coming out of our universities, we have a real problem, because then we have teachers by substandard English skills,” she said.

Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State, said the Tea Party hasn't yet put its candidate, Hard, on the ballot. A state panel consisting of two Democrats and two Republicans appointed by the governor will meet Aug. 23 and make a determination on the Tea Party petition.

Regents are elected at large in biennial statewide elections and serve without compensation.

Juliana Keeping is a higher education reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter