Shereef Akeel
Democratic- Candidate-reported background: Civil-rights attorney and CPA; Wayne State MBA graduate.
State education boards · November 3, 2026
Wayne State University · Governors
What this office does
Wayne State’s Board of Governors oversees university policy and spending and selects the university president. Its decisions shape tuition, student services and the university’s direction; the president manages daily operations.
10 listed candidates · Vote for no more than 2
8 years
Canton Precinct 8 sample ballot (PDF) · Names and voting limits follow this sample.
Research draft · Candidate order follows the sample ballot. Priorities summarize candidate or office statements, not independently verified outcomes. Missing responses do not mean a candidate has no position.
Compare major-party candidates
Compare backgrounds, priorities and records using the same evidence standards. Statements are attributed; gaps are not filled with assumptions. Source review dates remain unchanged.
This race has multiple candidates from each major party. Each column groups candidates by party; choose individuals within the ballot’s voting limit.
Also on your ballot: Alex Avery, Jami Van Alstine, Jeff McDonald, Paul M. Ragan, Suzanne Roehrig, Kathleen Oakford. View their profiles ↓
Background
Richard Mack
Democratic- Candidate-reported background: Labor attorney, Wayne State law graduate and former Detroit Charter Commission member.
Andy Anuzis
Republican- Campaign-reported background: Educator and Lincoln-King High School principal; previously worked in state and federal public policy. His campaign lists degrees from UM–Dearborn and Grand Valley State.
Christa Murphy
Republican- Candidate-reported background: Technology executive with experience at GM, Samsung and Meta; Wayne State mathematics graduate.
Key positions & priorities
Shereef Akeel
Democratic- Stated priorities: Supports student retention, need-based aid, mental-health resources and careful oversight of university spending.
Richard Mack
Democratic- Stated priorities: Emphasizes graduation support, affordability and protecting campus speech.
Andy Anuzis
Republican- Stated priorities: Emphasizes student success, university access and financial accountability.
Christa Murphy
Republican- Stated priorities: Supports budget discipline, workforce preparation and helping students complete their degrees.
Record & research gaps
Shereef Akeel
DemocraticA complete action-record review is not yet included.
Richard Mack
DemocraticA complete action-record review is not yet included.
Andy Anuzis
Republican- Research gap: No VOTE411 response was available when reviewed; his campaign biography supplies the summary above.
Christa Murphy
RepublicanA complete action-record review is not yet included.
Other candidates on your ballot
Alex Avery
Campaign website not verified as of October 12, 2026.VOTE411 candidate profile
Key positions & record
- Reported background: Branch’s voter guide describes education-sector sales experience and business degrees from Northwestern Michigan College and Central Michigan University.
- Election experience: Previously ran for U.S. House District 3 in 2024.
- Research gap: Current Wayne State policy details remain unverified; no VOTE411 questionnaire response was available when reviewed.
Reviewed October 12, 2026. Statements and biographies are attributed to the sources below; a complete action-record review is not included.
Jami Van Alstine
Campaign website not verified as of October 12, 2026.VOTE411 candidate profile
Key positions & record
- Historical campaign biography: Her earlier county-commission campaign describes more than 20 years in automotive IT and a Wayne State master’s degree in historical archaeology.
- Research gap: That older biography is background, not a 2026 platform. No current Wayne State policy response was available in VOTE411 when reviewed.
Reviewed October 12, 2026. Statements and biographies are attributed to the sources below; a complete action-record review is not included.
Jeff McDonald
Campaign website not verified as of October 12, 2026.VOTE411 candidate profile
Key positions & record
- Confirmed information: Listed as the U.S. Taxpayers candidate for Wayne State’s board on the sample ballot.
- Research gap: No candidate-specific career biography or campaign website was located in this review as of October 12, 2026. VOTE411 had no questionnaire response; his policy positions remain unverified.
Reviewed October 12, 2026. Statements and biographies are attributed to the sources below; a complete action-record review is not included.
Paul M. Ragan
Campaign website not verified as of October 12, 2026.VOTE411 candidate profile
Key positions & record
- Party-reported background: The Green Party of Michigan lists Paul Ragan as its membership manager and a web steward.
- Research gap: A career biography and current Wayne State policy platform remain unverified; VOTE411 had no questionnaire response when reviewed.
Reviewed October 12, 2026. Statements and biographies are attributed to the sources below; a complete action-record review is not included.
Suzanne Roehrig
Key positions & record
- Candidate-reported background: Retired teacher and librarian with degrees from Wayne State.
- Stated priorities: Supports free or low-cost higher education and freedom of campus speech and protest.
Reviewed October 12, 2026. Statements and biographies are attributed to the sources below; a complete action-record review is not included.
Kathleen Oakford
Campaign website not verified as of October 12, 2026.VOTE411 candidate profile
Key positions & record
- Election experience: County election records list earlier candidacies for Wayne State’s board in 2024 and University of Michigan regent in 2022.
- Research gap: Career background and current policy priorities remain unverified; VOTE411 had no questionnaire response when reviewed.
Reviewed October 12, 2026. Statements and biographies are attributed to the sources below; a complete action-record review is not included.
Office and ballot references: VOTE411 · Wayne State University Governors.
Source directory for this office