Libertarian Senate candidate Ali Sledz has been campaigning to have her voice heard at a March 24th candidate forum at Saginaw Valley State University.
Saginaw Valley State University and NPR continue to give varying excuses for excluding Ali Sledz. This is despite the fact that “exclusion of a candidate at a forum sponsored by a publicly funded University violates MCL 169.257 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, Act 388 of 1976,” according to attorney Kerry Morgan.
The League of Women Voters withdrew as one of the sponsors after many Libertarians and other citizens wrote the sponsors about the forum.
“The League will not serve as a sponsor for any event that does not include all qualified candidates. We strongly believe that every candidate should have the opportunity to participate,” said Judy Florian, VP for Voter Service for the Midland County branch.
“Please note that participation decisions are made by SVSU, which controls the format and invitation process for this event.”
Running as The Accountability Candidate, Ali Sledz expressed gratitude for the League of Women Voters decision.
“Publicly funded institutions and high officials are frequently unaccountable for and refreshing to hear that an organization of the League’s standing immediately recognized the injustice of SVSU’s discriminatory behavior when informed about it,” she said.
“SVSU purports to be an ‘educational’ institution, but it screens out libertarians, who preserve the most vibrant and consistent political ideas. It’s an indictment that they have betrayed their educational mission.”
Ali will be one of three candidates on the ballot for the May 5th special election for Senate in Michigan’s 35th District, which includes part of Saginaw, Bay, and Midland Counties.
Click here for Ali’s website, or go to her Facebook page.
Please click here to donate to her campaign.
You can email Ali Sledz at [email protected].
