Regents to lobby against elected status of board

Monday, March 21, 2005 | 9:32 a.m.

University regents urged one another on Friday to lobby state senators to vote against a constitutional amendment that would change the Board of Regents from an elected to a mostly appointed board.

Several regents argued that any denial of voters' rights to elect the Board of Regents would keep those voices from being heard.

The amendment, authored by Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, would reduce the size of the board from 13 members to nine, with six of those members appointed and three elected. It would also reduce the regents' term from six years to four years.

Regent chairman Stavros Anthony said it was the responsibility of every regent to speak to the senators on the matter. The proposed amendment passed the Senate on a narrow 11-10 vote in 2003. It must pass both the house and the senate again this session and go to voters in 2006 to become law.

An Assembly committee unanimously passed the amendment March 15.

Regents James Dean Leavitt, Linda Howard, Thalia Dondero and Jack Lund Schofield all expressed interest in speaking against the amendment. Howard said it would have to be done without using any state money, and Leavitt said he would call all of the senators.

The discussion came up as new business during a special meeting Friday to update the regents on the Legislature. Regents approved two updated priority lists for the university system's $95 million in unfunded capital construction requests and $132.17 million in other unfunded needs.

Regents also voted to give Interim Chancellor Jim Rogers latitude to "wheel and deal" with state lawmakers in order to fund as many of their priorities as possible.