Former U.S. congressmen and elections director will lead 'Protecting Democracy' discussion
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—In the midst of an intense presidential election, a bipartisan panel that includes former longtime lawmakers will explore challenges facing democracy. Former U.S. Congressmen Fred Upton and Mark Schauer along with Chris Thomas, former Michigan elections director, will headline the discussion “Protecting Democracy” on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m. at the Western Michigan University Student Center.
Co-sponsors of the event include the Michigan nonprofit corporation Citizens Rising, WMU-sponsored platform WeTalk and WMU student-sponsored program WeVote, with assistance from the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (USAFMC).
“So many democratic institutions and public officials are under threat,” says Scott Schrum, Citizens Rising organizer. “From school board members and public health officials to election workers and members of Congress, public servants face increasing public hostility, even death threats. Our ‘Protecting Democracy’ speakers will help us better understand how and why we must protect them.”
Jeff Breneman, WMU vice president for government relations, will serve as moderator for the discussion and Q&A focused on protecting democracy, a topic chosen by Citizens Rising.
Upton says he knows firsthand the damage caused by death threats against him and his congressional colleagues, as well as their staff and families, following public stances he and others took to uphold their constitutional oath.
“I understand how difficult the choices can be,” says Upton. “But, at some point, each of us must have an inner compass. We must look where that arrow is pointing and decide that the Constitution plays a larger role than politics, that shared values outrank partisan attacks.”
Doors for the event will open at 12:30 p.m. in Ballroom A of the WMU Student Center on Main Campus. The event is expected to end by 2:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the general public and the campus community. Parking is available in lots 40 and 41.
About the panel
Upton (R-St. Joseph) represented Michigan’s 4th and 6th Congressional Districts, including Kalamazoo, from 1987 to 2023. He chaired the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Before entering Congress, he worked in the Office of Management and Budget during the Ronald Reagan administration. Upton did not seek reelection in 2022.
Schauer (D-Battle Creek) represented Michigan's 7th Congressional District from 2009 to 2011. He served previously in the Michigan House of Representatives (1997-2002) and Michigan Senate (2003-09), representing Battle Creek and its surrounding region in each legislative body. Upon leaving Congress, he became chairman of a political action committee to help Michigan Democrats regain and retain majorities in both state legislative chambers. Schauer earned his master’s degree in public administration from WMU in 1987.
Thomas was known as “the dean of the nation’s election directors” before retiring in 2017 after 36 years as director of elections for the state of Michigan. Highlights of his tenure include implementing the Michigan Qualified Voter File, a statewide voter registration database and election management system that led to other innovations in Michigan’s voting systems, such as electronic poll books, the Voter Information Center and automated tracking so voters who cast absentee ballots can be sure their votes have been counted. He previously worked at the Federal Election Commission and served on the Presidential Commission on Election Administration during the Barack Obama administration. The commission identifies best practices in election administration and makes bipartisan recommendations to improve the voting experience.
About the event sponsors
Citizens Rising is a nonpartisan Kalamazoo-based group whose purpose is to move local, state and national governmental bodies to revive a sense of trust and mutual respect within our nation, to resolve critical policy issues that have not been addressed because of gridlock between our two political parties and to restore and protect institutions essential to the well-being of all citizens.
WeTalk is a WMU-sponsored platform that seeks to foster a culture of responsible and respectful civic, social, political and policy engagement. WeTalk members seek to raise awareness about free speech protections and promote the value of respecting viewpoint diversity as part of the academic setting and learning environment.
WeVote is a non-partisan, campuswide effort to institutionalize voting on the WMU campus and encourage students to make voting a lifelong habit. WeVote members strive to register all eligible WMU students to vote, to educate students and the campus community about candidates and ballot initiatives, and to increase voter turnout.
USAFMC is a bipartisan, nonprofit, voluntary alliance of former U.S. senators and representatives, advocating for representative democracy at home and abroad.
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