As an investigation continues into the sexual abuse scandal at Michigan State University, a candidate seeking a seat on the university’s governing board will speak in Livingston County next week.

East Lansing resident Dennis Denno will be a guest speaker at the Livingston County Democratic Party’s executive committee meeting on Thursday, February 22nd at 7pm. Denno is running as a Democrat for the MSU Board of Trustees, which has been under fire for its handling of the Larry Nassar scandal, in which the disgraced former sports doctor was sentenced to life in prison after more than 150 women testified that he sexually abused them under the guise of providing medical care. The fallout has forced the resignation of the university’s president and athletic director and a vote of no-confidence of the trustees by the faculty. An investigation is also underway by the Michigan Attorney General’s office.

While voters statewide will have an opportunity this November to elect members of the MSU board, the candidates themselves are nominated at the political parties’ nominating conventions. Denno is owner of the political consulting firm Denno Research, LLC and previously served as the communications director for the Michigan Democratic Party. In 2007, he helped create a new union at MSU, the Union of Non-Tenure Track Employees. Denno has been endorsed by the Michigan Democratic Party Arab-American Caucus, the Michigan Democratic Party Faith-Based Caucus, former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and Michigan State University (MSU) Trustee Brian Mosallam, among others.

The meeting will be RE/Max Platinum Auditorium, 6870 Grand River, in Genoa Township. For more information, call 810-229-4212 or email livcodems@gmail.com (JK)