Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Will Tyler White
Will Tyler White (Libertarian Party) ran for election for an at-large seat of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
White completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
White was a 2014 Libertarian Party candidate seeking election to the U.S. House to represent the 4th Congressional District of Michigan.[1] He lost to John Moolenaar (R) in the general election.
Biography
White was born in Detroit, Michigan. His professional experience includes working as a retail business owner and as a consultant in economic development. White also served as a board member with the Meridian Township Economic Development Corporation (2001-2013, vice-chair 2003-2007), was the founding chair and board member of Okemos Downtown Development Authority (2006-2013, chair/vice-chair), and was a founding board member of the Bath Downtown Development Authority (2011-2015). He has also held credentials as a certified economic developer and was a co-founder and owner of White Brothers Music—a Michigan LLC., and was a co-founder and owner of Travelers Club International Restaurant. White's organizational affiliations include the International Economic Development Council, Michigan Downtown Association, Michigan Economic Development Association, Michigan Election Reform Alliance, Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council, Michigan Energy Options, National Motorists Association, and the Small Business Association of Michigan.[2]
Elections
2020
See also: Michigan State Board of Regents election, 2020
General election
General election for Michigan State University Board of Trustees (2 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Michigan State University Board of Trustees on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Pat O'Keefe (R)  | 24.2 | 2,377,241 |
| ✔ |  | Rema Vassar (D) | 24.1 | 2,364,939 |
 | Brian Mosallam (D) | 23.7 | 2,329,011 | |
 | Tonya Schuitmaker (R) | 23.4 | 2,301,355 | |
 | Will Tyler White (L) | 1.3 | 123,719 | |
| Janet Sanger (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan) | 0.9 | 87,637 | ||
 | Robin Laurain (G) | 0.8 | 74,495 | |
| Brandon Hu (G) | 0.7 | 66,409 | ||
| John Sanger (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan) | 0.6 | 60,077 | ||
| Bridgette Abraham-Guzman (Natural Law Party) | 0.5 | 46,193 | ||
| Total votes: 9,831,076 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees (2 seats)
Incumbent Brian Mosallam and Rema Vassar advanced from the Democratic convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees on August 29, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Brian Mosallam (D) |
| ✔ | | Rema Vassar (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees (2 seats)
Pat O'Keefe and Tonya Schuitmaker defeated Ken Stanecki in the Republican convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees on August 29, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Pat O'Keefe (R) |
| ✔ | | Tonya Schuitmaker (R) |
| Ken Stanecki (R) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Green convention
Green convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees (2 seats)
Brandon Hu and Robin Laurain advanced from the Green convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees on June 20, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Brandon Hu (G) | |
| ✔ | | Robin Laurain (G) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees (2 seats)
Will Tyler White advanced from the Libertarian convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees on July 18, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Will Tyler White (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Natural Law Party convention
Natural Law Party convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees (2 seats)
Bridgette Abraham-Guzman advanced from the Natural Law Party convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees on July 30, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Bridgette Abraham-Guzman (Natural Law Party) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention
U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees (2 seats)
Janet Sanger and John Sanger advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention for Michigan State University Board of Trustees on July 25, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Janet Sanger (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan) | |
| ✔ | John Sanger (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Elections
2014
White ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. House to represent Michigan's 4th District. He was defeated by Moolenaar in the general election on November 4, 2014.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  John Moolenaar |
56.5% | 123,962 | |
| Democratic | Jeff Holmes | 39.1% | 85,777 | |
| Libertarian | Will Tyler White | 2.1% | 4,694 | |
| U.S. Tax Payers Party | Georgia M. Zimmer | 2.3% | 4,990 | |
| Total Votes | 219,423 | |||
| Source: Michigan Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Will Tyler White completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by White's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
As an MSU student, I learned that some degrees are worth more than others, but there was not much guidance on which degree to pursue. Much of the knowledge needed to run a business I learned in high school, or on my own, on the job. It was faster, more comprehensive, and I got paid. The economics of trade schools or apprentice training, and their more immediate effect on the community brought to my attention the interplay between education, business, the community and the economy.
I ended up studying independently with the International Economic Development Council and learned that economic development affects all communities in profound ways. It is a cross-discipline field of study though, and not offered as a major. Eventually, I qualified as a Certified Economic Developer and I encourage MSU to develop programs in that field.- Operating MSU safely under the pandemic is a big challenge right now. The Board of Trustees should meet more often with the provost and facilities teams to get a handle on how to address the problems that entails. There will be significant financial and physical challenges to maintain the quality of education and level of service that students and faculty expect. The Board of Trustees needs to be focused on the immediate and short-term adjustments that need to be made. The decision to allow a reduced football season made sense as a good compromise, provided it is done safely.
- The university and its board should support anti-racism initiatives that are genuine, inclusive and effective, as we all should be doing as individuals. Speak out and stand up when appropriate. Board meetings should be accessible for anyone wishing to speak. I support the initiative of MSU President Stanley, who recognizes the important role the university has in these matters. In August, he asked the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee to create a Task Force on Racial Equality. It will address the issues important to racial communities on the MSU campus. The University should follow their recommendations.
- Lower, guaranteed tuition rates and better outcomes for MSU students should be a priority. The admissions office should determine which students might be better suited to a two-year associate degree. Expanding the work-study program would help, and paid internships that contribute to course credits. More counselors are needed to help underperforming students. Better analysis of which industries will be hiring in the future would make degree decisions more successful with job placement. There is an expectation that a degree will be worth its cost. A $100,000 vehicle has a warrantee. MSU should guarantee a degree will get you an appropriate job.
Featured local questionThe University takes federal dollars, is on state property, but an assault can begin off-campus, so it could be federal, state, or local officials handling the case. It gets complicated if a student is assaulted off campus by a contractor hired by a department using federal dollars.
There will be different outcomes if it is reported it to the hall monitor, campus police or the state police. MSU employees might report to their supervisor.
The chain of command for reporting and responding to incidents should be analyzed and improved.
MSU sexual assault reporting protocols were last updated in July of 2016.
Featured local question Featured local questionThat includes hiring, firing, producing a budget, and overseeing all the departments and colleges.
Featured local question Featured local questionContinuing the freeze on some salaries and reducing staff through attrition can both help, but it will take continuous monitoring and adjustments to reduce costs long-term.
Featured local questionI am also passionate about election reform. Nothing is more important to our system of government than properly run elections. Michigan generally has well-run elections, but some counties do better than others and need help. In my work with the Michigan Election Reform Alliance, we found many areas with room for improvement.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2014 Unofficial Michigan General Candidate Listing," accessed August 20, 2014
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 26, 2020
