2008 Woodie Awards
Gartner: Last day on Jan. 1
Ben Fornell - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
A state Board of Regents' presidency shadowed by a controversial UI presidential search may end soon.
Regent President Michael Gartner wrote in an e-mail to the regents Monday that he will propose they elect a new president before the first of the year. His term officially expires April 30, 2008.
"I don't think we can lawfully do this [today]," Regent Robert Downer said, noting that the Iowa Open Meetings Law requires the regents to post any changes to a meeting agenda 24 hours before the meeting begins.
Gartner has said he will serve the rest of his regular term as a regent, which expires in 2011.
"I will be 70 years old this year," he wrote. He said that, because he is not seeking a second term, a new president should be elected to lobby the state Legislature.
"With all due respect to my friends in the Legislature, my wife, and Maui, and spring training are more appealing to me," he wrote.
He seemed tired as he described spending the last eight springs on Capitol Hill in Des Moines, first with the Vision Iowa program and later as the regents' president.
"I am grateful to you for electing me president … I am quite proud of the accomplishments of the board in the past three years," Gartner wrote, adding that he is especially pleased to have appointed UI President Sally Mason and University of Northern Iowa President Benjamin Allen and to have secured tens of millions in funding for Iowa's public universities.
Downer was surprised by today's announcement, he said, but he noted that with Gartner's age and previous statement that he would not run for a second term more than a month ago, he could "see why [Gartner] wants to get out early."
Gartner has named regent President Pro Tem David Miles as his likely successor. Downer also predicted a Miles presidency. The transition would not take place until Jan. 1.
Miles did not return phone calls for an interview Monday night. In an earlier interview, he said he would be delighted to serve on the board if asked. He added that he sees the role of president more as administrator and less as a gatekeeper.
Appointed to the board in March by Gov. Chet Culver, Miles concluded an 11-year stint with the Drake University Board of Trustees this year.
Until recently, he was an executive with Countryside Renewable Energy, a group organized to consolidate independent ethanol into larger organizations, according to the Regents website.
This fall, he started the Miles Group, a family investment business. In 2005 and 2006, he was executive vice president for Principal Mutual Funds, then valued at over $28 billion.
After graduating from Drake University, Miles earned both a master's degree in public policy and a law degree from Harvard University.
E-mail DI reporter Ben Fornell at:
benjamin-fornell@uiowa.edu
Regent President Michael Gartner wrote in an e-mail to the regents Monday that he will propose they elect a new president before the first of the year. His term officially expires April 30, 2008.
"I don't think we can lawfully do this [today]," Regent Robert Downer said, noting that the Iowa Open Meetings Law requires the regents to post any changes to a meeting agenda 24 hours before the meeting begins.
Gartner has said he will serve the rest of his regular term as a regent, which expires in 2011.
"I will be 70 years old this year," he wrote. He said that, because he is not seeking a second term, a new president should be elected to lobby the state Legislature.
"With all due respect to my friends in the Legislature, my wife, and Maui, and spring training are more appealing to me," he wrote.
He seemed tired as he described spending the last eight springs on Capitol Hill in Des Moines, first with the Vision Iowa program and later as the regents' president.
"I am grateful to you for electing me president … I am quite proud of the accomplishments of the board in the past three years," Gartner wrote, adding that he is especially pleased to have appointed UI President Sally Mason and University of Northern Iowa President Benjamin Allen and to have secured tens of millions in funding for Iowa's public universities.
Downer was surprised by today's announcement, he said, but he noted that with Gartner's age and previous statement that he would not run for a second term more than a month ago, he could "see why [Gartner] wants to get out early."
Gartner has named regent President Pro Tem David Miles as his likely successor. Downer also predicted a Miles presidency. The transition would not take place until Jan. 1.
Miles did not return phone calls for an interview Monday night. In an earlier interview, he said he would be delighted to serve on the board if asked. He added that he sees the role of president more as administrator and less as a gatekeeper.
Appointed to the board in March by Gov. Chet Culver, Miles concluded an 11-year stint with the Drake University Board of Trustees this year.
Until recently, he was an executive with Countryside Renewable Energy, a group organized to consolidate independent ethanol into larger organizations, according to the Regents website.
This fall, he started the Miles Group, a family investment business. In 2005 and 2006, he was executive vice president for Principal Mutual Funds, then valued at over $28 billion.
After graduating from Drake University, Miles earned both a master's degree in public policy and a law degree from Harvard University.
E-mail DI reporter Ben Fornell at:
benjamin-fornell@uiowa.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Joe Schmoe
posted 12/04/07 @ 8:52 AM CST
Why doesn't he do everyone a real favor and resign altogether. His term as president has been marred by inefficiency and ineffectiveness. Just go away!
Nobody
posted 12/04/07 @ 2:10 PM CST
We'll miss you, Mike!
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