Chancellor asks governor to use panel to vet regents candidates

Wed, Nov 12, 2008 (5:52 p.m.)

Letter to Gov. Gibbons on Board of Regents selection process

Jim Rogers, chancellor of Nevada’s higher education system, wrote Gov. Jim Gibbons today to ask if Gibbons would consider creating a committee to evaluate candidates for the Board of Regents, which governs the state’s public higher education system.

Rogers suggested that a faculty member, administrator, a student and a couple members of the business community would be a good mix for such a committee.

The chancellor’s request comes after Republican Bob Beers, the fiscal conservative who lost his state senate seat in the Nov. 4 election, expressed interest in joining the board. Bret Whipple, a regent who also lost re-election, wants the governor to consider appointing him to one of two seats fellow regents are vacating in January.

Regent Thalia Dondero ran for re-election unopposed, but will leave the board because a court ruling deemed her ineligible to serve another term because of term limits. Regent Steve Sisolak won a seat on the Clark County Commission. The responsibility of appointing their replacement falls to Gibbons.

Beers and Whipple have publicly criticized the chancellor, who has long advocated for new taxes to fund education.

Their appointments would be controversial given their recent election losses.

In addition, because each regent represents a geographic district, Whipple would have to move to be eligible to continue on the board, which might not sit well with his new constituents.

Discussion: 6 comments so far…

By worstnightmere

11/12/08 at 7:59 p.m.

Suggest removal

Good luck Mr. Rogers, Gibbons is going to appoint anyone who opposes you. Hopefully Gibbons will do the right thing and appoint a bias board member. If not, you can count on Bob Beers, one of Gibbons cronies..
By Oh_Please

11/12/08 at 10:23 p.m.

Suggest removal

Is that the same Beers who now feels indebted to UNLV when just last year he was against increasing the funding for the university? (The so-called decrease in the increase debacle) He didn't understand the needs of Nevada's Education System then. It's unlikely he gets it now.
By Public_Education_NV

11/12/08 at 10:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

As reported, "Rogers suggested that a faculty member, administrator, a student and a couple members of the business community would be a good mix for such a committee."

That would be a fair and responsible way to fill the vacant positions.
By KDR81

11/13/08 at 10:44 a.m.

Suggest removal

Worstnightmere,

Beers is NOT a Gibbons crony. Beers has been one of Gibbons biggest critics. Maybe you werent around during the Republican primaries for Governor.

Rogers just wants people that will be his cronies to fill the board.

and Oh, Please, UNLV doesnt need more money, it needs better management. UNLV budget is so massive spends over $20,000 per student, per year!!!!
By Oh_Please

11/13/08 at 11:02 p.m.

Suggest removal

Hey KDR81

Which hat did you pull that number from?

I rather cite a reference from wikipedia than npri.
By Idle_Chatter

11/14/08 at 4:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

I think Beers might add some interesting color to the mix! However, voters sent a pretty strong message when Blakely beat Whipple without even trying. I don't think they'd appreciate having their vote overruled by Gibbons.