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Education Candidates Get Little Help

Education Candidates Get Little Help image
Parent Issue
Day
31
Month
October
Year
1974
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

LANSING- It's probable that every third voter won't even bother Nov. 5 to help piek eight persons who will affect the lives of millions of school children and college students in Michigan. What's more, the education candidates' own olitical parties are giving the contenders little more than a pat on the back and a push out the door. The statewide education posts at stake are two seats each on the State Board of Education and of the governing boards of the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Michigan State University. In spite of the importance of the posts, one million voters - almost a third of the turn-out - didn't take the time to choose from among the candidates after casting ballots in the other races two years ago. Education candidates always have the problem of being the most obscure of the statewide contenders and of having the least funds to campaign, but the situation is even worse this year. Watergate-campaign reform laws and s cares have dried up many money sources, especially among Republicans, I and the state parties are plowing most of I the money they get into thé race between I Gov. William G. Milliken and Democrat[ ie challenger Sander M. Levin. "Any education candidate can teil you the way the races are won is by which party gets the most votes at the top," said Morley Winograd, Democratie state chairmaitf "So we urge them to go out and campaign for Sandy Levin, (Atty. Gen.) I Frank Kelley ánd the rest." The GOP's education candidates are in I the same situation, acknowledged Jerry I D. Roe, executive director of the RepubI lican State Central Committee. "We called all the education people I and told them what they could expect in I the way of money - nothing - and we I suggested what types of education I groups they ■ should speak to and so I forth," Roe said. "The party has no money. That's it." So much for campaign funds. As for issues, well, try to find them. "Let's face it," the education issue is going to be almost a non-issue statewide," said one GOP official. "The education candidates have nothing in common and there isn't any grand strategy behind their selection or campaign, and I neither are there among the Democrats, as far as I can teil." One of the few attèmpts at making a statewide issue is a drive by Republican James F. O'Neil of Livonia, who is seeking re-election to the State Board of Education, to change the method of nominating and electing candidates for education positions. O'Neil was elected on a partisan ballot, but he has started a petition drive to change the state Constitution to elect statewide education officials by nonpartisan ballot, as are members of the State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are chosen now. O'Neil, purchasing manager of Ford Motor Company's Design Center, is the only State Board member seeking reelection. Republicans hold a 4-2 edge over Democrats, with one independent. President Gorton Riethmiller, and one vacancy. O'Neil, 50, is vice president of the board and is serving out an eight-year term. He also was on the old state board in 1963-64 before its structure was reorganized by the new constitution. The other GOP nominee for the State Board is Mrs. Florence (Jo) Saltzman of Franklin, immediate past president of the Birmingham Board of Education. On the Democratie side, board candidate Roger B. Tilles, 28, is seeking to return to the state education scène where he once was director of school law and legislation for the Department of Education. A resident of Swartz Creek, Tilles practices law in Flint and is an instructor in school law at several colleges. Mrs. Barbara J. Roberts of Lansing, executive director of the Lansing Schools Education Association, is the other Democratie candidate for the State Board. A former speech therapist for the Lansing School District, she has been active in numerous political, civic, black and women's groups. Democrats and Republicans are evenly divided 4-4 on each of the three university governing boards. Among contests for board posts, the one appearing to attract the most interest is for the two seats on the University of Michigan Board of Regents. No incumbents are seeking re-election and 15. candidates, including small-party candidates, are competing for the seats. Mrs. Sarah G. Power, 39, of Ann Arbor is one of the two Democratie contenders. She is on leave as assistant chajrman of the U-M Commission ■ for Women. Her husband, Philip, is the publisher of several Detroit suburban newspapers. Thomas A. Roach, 45, of Grosse Pointe Farms, is the other Democratie candidate for U-M regent. Roach, a partner in a Detroit law firm, is making nis third attempt to win a place on the board. Mrs. Dona Scott Parker, 31, an attorney and director of the First National Bank of Howell, is one of the GOP, candidates. She is a partner in a law firm with her husband, Robert, who is mayor of Howell, and also owns Parker Abstract and Title Co. The other Republican candidate for the U-M board is David Upton, 52, of St. Jo'seph. He is president of Southwestern Michigan Abstract and Title Co., was a l state representative in 1963-64, a delégate to the state Constitutional Convention, I and was Berrien County Republican I chairman in 1966-69. Republicans are fielding two 1 bents for the two seats on the Michigan I State University Board of Trustees, 1 cluding Board Chairman Frank 1 man of Deckerville. Merriman, 54, is a I dairy farmer and has been on the MSU I board since 1960. Kenneth W. Thompson of East 1 sing, the other Republican incumbent, I recently retired as general manager ofl Michigan Bell Telephone Company'sl southern area. Thompson, 66, is a direc-l tor of the Michigan Safety Conference. I Democratie candidates for the MSU I Board are Raymond W. Krolikowski and I John B. Bruff . Britff, a 45-year-old Fraser attorney I who was the Democratie nominee for I lieutenant governor in 1966, is district 1 presentative for U.S. Rep. James . G. 1 Hara, Democratie chairman of the 12th I Congressional District and chairman of I the Rules Committee for the Democratie I State Central Committee. Krolikowski, 46, an attorney who lives I in Bloomfield Township, is a member of I the New Detroit board of trustees and! was a director of the American-Polish I Action Council and of the Polish-I American Chamber of Commerce. On the Wayne State University Board I of Governors, the one incumbent seeking I re'-election is Republican Norman O.l Stockmeyer of Westland, a businessman I who has been on the board smee 1964. I A Detroit pathologist, Dr. Frank B.l Walker of Grosse Pointe, is the other I GOP candidate. He is a director of thel Michigan Doctors Political Action Com-I mittee. I Among the Democratie candidates for-l the Wayne State board is Mildred M. 1 frey of Detroit, coördinator of consumer I affairs for the UAW's international 1 ganization. Mrs. Jef f rey, 63, was a I Democratie national committee woman I from 1964 to 1972. Michael Èinheuser, administrator for I the Detroit Transit Alternative, a service I center for runaway youth, is the other' I Democratie candidate. Only the candidates of the major par-l ties are expected to win, but the seven I minor parties in Michigan have candidates for some or all of the education posts.