Three candidates vie for a pair of LCC trustee seats

Three candidates, including one incumbent, are running for a pair of six-year terms on Lansing Community College’s Board of Trustees.

Incumbent Terry Frazier, a longtime educator, is running against two area natives, Ryan J. Smith and Chatum Taylor.

Meanwhile, incumbents Noel Garcia Jr., a retired Lansing Police officer, and Hope Lovell, executive director of nonprofit Lovejoy Community Services, are running unopposed for two partial-term seats through 2026.

Here is a look at the candidates in the competitive race.

Terry Frazier

Frazier was picked this year from 25 applicants to be appointed to complete one of two partial terms after attorney Andrew Abood and Ingham County court administrator Ryan Buck resigned effective Jan. 1.

Frazier, 49, hangs his hat on a multi-decade educational career that included administrative roles at Michigan State University, Alabama A&M University, Stephen F. Austin State University and Ball State University. He and his wife opened Sweet Encounter Bakery & Cafe in the Knapp’s Centre in 2022.

“Lansing is a global place, and community college is where most folks are going to be going to school now. I want to continue to help strengthen the pipeline for creating global citizens,” Frazier said.

If elected, Frazier said he hopes to help strike a balance between online learning and the more traditional community college setting.

 “Students want to take online classes, but we want people to be able to come and have physical, in-person classes, too,” he said. “The question we have to answer is how we can use our space more efficiently. How do we maintain our beautiful campus and continue to grow on the technology side?”

Frazier would also like to foster greater student participation and promote LCC to a wider audience by broadening its internet presence and bolster its relationships with the local media.

“I’d like to see more students get involved with the running of the university. We want to hear more of their opinions about what’s happening,” Frazier said. “LCC is really a hidden gem here in Lansing, and we need to get that word out.”

Ryan J. Smith:

Smith, 47, is an East Lansing resident and Michigan State University graduate who grew up in Williamston. He owns his own business, S&S Real Estate Holdings, which owns property in Florida, Illinois and Michigan. 

Smith’s first crack at public office came in an unsuccessful run for Lansing School Board in 2022. He applied for the vacant LCC trustee position in January but was not selected as a finalist.

As a trustee, he said he would like to help LCC become an “educational Swiss Army Knife” in the community and hopes to help expand its offerings for students in all fields.

“I want LCC to be whatever the given student needs it to be to have success,” Smith explained. “I believe access to high quality educational opportunities are essential to a successful community, and I want to make sure that LCC continues to prepare the students of today for the careers of tomorrow.”

For Smith, this quest begins through proper leadership. He identified the three “important attributes” of a successful leader as “the ability to listen,” willingness to compromise and leading by example.

“Time is our most valuable asset. Successful leaders invest significant time into building collaboration by developing ideas and making sure those ideas are then implemented,” he explained.

Smith believes “LCC has been a very respected and successful educational institution for our community,” he said. “I want to make sure that continues.”

Chatum Taylor:

(Note: City Pulse was unable to reach Taylor for comment for this story. The following quotes are from her responses to questions from Vote411.org.)

Chatum Taylor, 45, is a Lansing native and graduate of Everett High School and Lansing Community College who is a manager for Lake Trust Credit Union. She applied unsuccessfully for LCC trustee this year.

From 2015 through 2019, Taylor managed CASE Credit Union’s LCC branch in the Gannon Building, which she said helped her better understand student needs. She touts her financial expertise as her candidacy’s key aspect.

“I want to help to continue bridging the gap between financial literacy and financial capability by working with the current programs LCC offers and by looking at more effective student-options to mandate a financial wellness course before graduation,” she said.

Ensuring that tuition stays affordable is paramount to this effort, she added.

“LCC has been and continues to be a staple in our community. The role of the community college is to provide an education for all students, no matter what area of life they are in,” she said, adding that she would look to “offer unique, diverse programs” to “keep up with the ever-changing economic workforces of today’s times.”

- TYLER SCHNEIDER