Gov. Jesse Ventura told the Minnesota state Legislature on Tuesday he will not appoint a replacement for the recently vacated University Board of Regents seat.
The seat has been vacant since the Oct. 20 death of Regent William Peterson, an at-large member.
Instead, Ventura asked the Regent Candidate Advisory Council — a 24-member board that recommends regent candidates to the state Legislature — to add one more position to the four seats that are up for election next February.
“It makes sense to tap into the recruiting and screening process already underway in this unique case,” Ventura said in a letter to the Legislature.
Regent Chair Patricia Spence and Regents Warren Larson, Michael O’Keefe and Jessica Phillips are the additional four seats up for election next February. Spence already said she will seek re-election.
If vying for an at-large regent position, a prospective applicant must just be a Minnesota resident. However, for Regent O’Keefe’s seat, applicants must be from the Fifth Congressional District. To fill Regent Phillips’ seat, applicants must be a University student.
Those interested must submit an application to the Regent Advisory Council by Dec. 1.
— Patrick Hayes