Daniel Patterson for MSU Board of Trustees
Our campaign is about independence, and Independents.
Fighting with a vim!
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About Daniel Patterson
Daniel R. Patterson is the only candidate for MSU Trustee from outside urban southern Michigan, and the only candidate with education and expertise in agriculture and natural resources, the foundation of MSU’s land grant mission.
With his independent, positive style for change, Daniel will work with everyone for a stronger MSU. Patterson’s leadership priorities include:
- Collaborative, balanced & independent relations with the MSU President.
- Rural affairs and support.
- Agriculture & natural resources.
- Affordable tuition.
- Academic & athletic excellence.
- Free speech on campus.
- Science.
- Labor, jobs, business & economy.
- Strong, sustainable budget for MSU.
Daniel has been a Spartan his whole life. He was born into a working family in Lansing, Michigan in 1971. His Mom holds a master’s degree from MSU and was a teacher in the Lansing School District. His Dad was an automotive sector small businessman and Lansing business and charity leader. Daniel attended Lansing schools, worked on cars with his Dad, hunted and fished, and graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1994. While at MSU, Daniel was the host of the popular Reggae Sunsplash show on Impact 89FM, WDBM radio. He is now a DJ on WJZD radio in Detroit.
Daniel worked his professional career with conservation groups and the US Interior Dept. in wildlands fire, public lands, natural resources, energy, water, agriculture and public service. He served as an Arizona State Lawmaker 2008-12. In 2020, Daniel won a federal whistleblower action against the Trump administration for violations of labor and environmental laws, During his career of public service, Daniel learned how to approach tough issues, work hard and find common ground to solve problems.
Daniel still works as a wildlands firefighter on US Incident Management Teams across the nation. He lives in Indian River, Michigan with his wife Lori. The rest of his family is in Grand Rapids and Lansing.
Daniel Patterson respectfully asks for your vote for MSU Trustee this November. Thank you. Reach him at 231.238.3751 or dpcampaign@gmail.com
Patterson for MSU Trustee Campaign Committee:
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F.D. Guy, Detroit & Southeast Michigan
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C.A. Chase, Grand Rapids & Western Michigan
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P.J. Reinhart, Lansing & Mid-Michigan
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M.A. Cowall, Northern Michigan & Eastern States
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L.L. Kindsvatter, Upper Peninsula & Rural Michigan
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J.L. McKesson, Western States & International
My responses today to League of Women Voters Questionnaire
LWV: What experience and vision would you bring to the MSU Board of Trustees to help guide the university’s academic, financial, and community priorities?
Me: MSU's Board of Trustees is broken & needs change. 86% of MSU faculty recently voted they're not confident in the Board. Ongoing Board turmoil pushed MSU President Guskiewicz to say it's an 'unsustainable situation'. The Board has failed MSU, derailed by outta touch personal agendas, secrecy & poor leadership. As a firefighter, I'm a problem solver using my independent style, leadership & positive teamwork for change. I'm not a lawyer or lobbyist. I won't sell out. I will listen & work with everyone for a stronger MSU. I'm the only candidate from rural Michigan & Lansing. My knowledge in science, agriculture & natural resources is key for MSU.
LWV: What are the most pressing issues facing this university today, and what is your position on those issues?
Me: MSU generates $9.7B a year for Michigan's economy, a leading driver of research, jobs & innovation. 12,000 MSU employees & 306,000 alumni are in every Michigan county, essential to our communities & economies. Unwise job & budget cuts have hurt MSU & Michigan. My priorities for a stronger MSU include: Affordable tuition; Pro-Labor; Academic & athletic excellence; Rural support; Agriculture, natural resources, energy & water; Pro-science; Sustainable budget; No ICE on campus; Divest from Israel govt/weapons; No data centers/limit AI. I'll bring an independent, transparent & positive visionary style for progress with MSU's President & alumni.
LWV: How do you evaluate the University’s efforts to expand access for Michigan residents and uphold free speech on campus, and what actions would you support the Board taking in these areas?
Me: Tuition & cost of living are too expensive & student loan debt is keeping people down. Affordability must be a top priority, working toward a goal of earning free tuition for Michigan high school grads. Trump's madness toward free speech is a threat to us all. MSU should be 'fighting with a vim' against heavy-handed federal attacks on Spartans' independence, but instead we've seen weak capitulation. MSU's Board & President have failed to protect free speech. Students & staff are now being targeted for using the same non-violent strategies that helped bring down racist apartheid in South Africa in the 90s. Free speech at MSU must be defended.
Biographical Information
- Michigan State University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, B.S. (2), 1994
- Firefighter; Liaison Officer
- Ecologist; US Incident Management Teams; US Dept of Interior (ret.); State Representative (AZ, fmr.); Radio Host, Impact-89FM, WDBM, East Lansing (fmr.)