Beshear weighs in on search for new higher-ed chief
By Art Jester And Ryan Alessi
AJESTER@HERALD-LEADER.COM
Gov. Steve Beshear wants the state Council on Postsecondary Education to conduct a national search for its next president and hire a nationally recognized educator -- an apparent gubernatorial thumbs-down for Beshear's former law partner, Brad Cowgill.
Cowgill
became the council's interim president on Sept. 1, after he had been
budget director for Gov. Ernie Fletcher. Beshear, a Democrat, defeated
Fletcher, a Republican, for governor last November.
Cowgill, whose interim term is supposed to end this month, is a Democrat, but he has been a lifelong friend of Fletcher's.
In a letter dated April 4, Beshear told chairman John Turner of Lebanon that he wanted to remind the council to carefully adhere to the requirements of state law.
Beshear wrote, in part: "Please be mindful that the statutes require the president to have 'an established reputation as a professional in the field of postsecondary education' and dictate that the president serve as an 'advisor to the Governor.' For that advice to be most valuable that person must have a full understanding of academia and wide-ranging, meaningful experience in higher education. I am sure you agree."
Beshear's letter indicated that copies were sent to council members. Cowgill said a copy was hand-delivered to his office on Monday.
Cowgill said he is interested in the permanent job, and that was confirmed by Turner.
Turner said that he and council Vice Chairman Dan Flanagan of Campbellsville met Wednesday with Beshear. Turner said the governor "didn't come right out and say, 'you can't have Brad Cowgill,' but he kept referring to the law."
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