In February, the League of Women Voters withdrew its sponsorship of Saginaw Valley State University’s (SVSU’s) Great Lakes Bay Region Candidate Forum (March 25) because it excludes qualified Libertarian candidate, Ali Sledz. Nonetheless, SVSU refuses to do the right thing and open the forum to all qualified candidates.
How does this happen? Why no accountability?
It boils down to (1) hypocritical conflicts of interest and (2) the low-quality results so common in tax-subsidized institutions. Furthermore, it happens at every level of SVSU—from President George Grant to the Department of Political Science to the forum “advisors.”
SVSU’s President: A Study in Hypocrisy
Let’s first look at President Grant. Contact: (989) 964-4041 – ggrant@svsu.edu.
Note the contrast between word and deed.
- From Grant’s SVSU webpage. “At SVSU, we are committed to opening doors and creating opportunities that empower people to see their potential and be liberated and equipped to pursue their dreams.” The open doors, opportunities, empowerment, and liberation don’t extend to SVSU’s candidate forum.
- As a bureaucrat with training largely in social work, Grant nonetheless claims competency in “advancing regional economic development.” But he never produced a single product or service with genuine non-subsidized customers. Does he understand anything about economics or thriving markets?
Political Science That’s All Politics and No Science
SVSU’s poli-sci webpage includes a mission statement that doesn’t ring true. - “…the study of the ideas, interest and expectations people bring to making decisions…” They should add, “unless
those ideas lead to expectations we find undesirable.” - “…to forge a common life that will be good for more than a few…” But who defines “more than a few”?
- “…issues of equality and justice…” Enough said.
- “…it is important for citizens to understand the complexities of politics because governing rarely is a simplistic
process.” Except when it’s not convenient. - Now that 45% of U.S. adults identify as political independents (Gallop poll, Jan. 2026), a competent poli-sci department
wouldn’t exclude candidates that don’t fall into the R or D boxes. Moreover, the current independent trend reaches as
high as 56% for Gen Z voters—the age group of SVSU students.
Kevin Lorentz – Contact: (989) 964-4378 – kglorent@svsu.edu
Lorentz, a forum advisor who teaches political science at SVSU, has a conflict of Interest. The following activities should
prompt him to exercise special care in judgements about which candidates he excludes: - He is a Republican member of the Bay County Board of Canvassers. Libertarian voters hold the margin of victory
in close elections where Democrats and Republicans run neck-and-neck. Is this why he excludes the Libertarian? - He volunteers for the Friends of SVSU Political Action Committee (PAC), which seeks tax subsidies for his
employer. In contrast, Libertarians advocate a smaller role for government.
Lex Hallberg – Contact: (989) 964-2168 – achallbe@svsu.edu
This assistant director of community affairs (cited if you have “questions” about SVSU’s forum) sounds like a Miss
America Pageant sweetheart on her LinkedIn page. But when it comes to a forum for ideas, she’s all about censorship:
- “I thrive at the intersection of civic engagement, strategic partnerships, and mission-driven impact.” Ironically, her “intersection” looks more like a crack-up between civic engagement and censorship.
- She touts an ability to work with “stakeholders” and “create meaningful opportunities for students, partners, and the wider community.” But it looks more like a stake in the heart of stakeholders and a ditched opportunity for any exchange of ideas.
- She claims to build “empowered communities.” Except when she’s busy doing the opposite.
John Kaczynski – Contact: (989) 964-7481 – jlkaczyn@svsu.edu
- He’s the Republican County Commissioner for the 7th District of the Saginaw County Commission. He has a vested interest in excluding competitors who threaten the Uni-Party of Democrats and Republicans.
- He claims a devotion to “ensuring that SVSU’s presence as a public service institution is both impactful and aligned with the needs of our diverse stakeholders.” Except when he’s not.And this: “At my core, I believe strong communities are built by people who care enough to bridge gaps, ask better questions, and lead with integrity.” Does this ring true?
Keep Michigan Stupid
By excluding Libertarian Ali Sledz, SVSU is perpetuating the ignorance documented in a recent poll of Michigan voters. In February, a Glengariff Group poll of Michigan voters showed that voters are blissfully unaware of how poorly Michigan ranks nationally on key metrics such as education, the economy, and income.
The president of Glengariff Group said, “On nearly every metric we tested, Michigan voters believe the state is doing average against other states. The reality is that Michigan is doing far worse. Michigan voters have no clue how we stack up against the other states, even on those metrics where Michigan is at the bottom of the list.”
Congratulations, SVSU! You’re doing your job! Keep up the good work!
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Ali Sledz is a resident of Midland and mother of three. Married for 16 years (in July), she is an active volunteer in her
local school district. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Central Michigan University and is working on a Master of
Science at Oakland University. Alarmed by the lack of responsibility among the two major parties, she is running as The
Accountability Candidate for Michigan’s long-vacant 35th District Senate seat.
