Cowgill resigns from CPE

By RONNIE ELLIS
CNHI News Service

FRANKFORT April 30, 2008 01:00 pm

— Brad Cowgill announced late Tuesday afternoon he is resigning as interim president of the Council on Postsecondary Education. His decision brings to a close the tension between the council and Gov. Steve Beshear who opposed Cowgill’s permanent employment in the position.
“I have no desire to wage a battle with the Governor over this matter,” Cowgill said in a prepared statement announcing his resignation. “It would unduly harm Kentucky’s postsecondary education reform efforts and the positive momentum that has been achieved to this point.”
Cowgill’s announcement came at the end of a day on which CPE chairman John Turner and CPE member John Hall met privately with Beshear for about 40 minutes. After that meeting, Turner said it was to make sure “we understood exactly and clearly . . . what is going on.”
Three hours later, Cowgill sent out his resignation announcement.
Afterward, Turner said he accepted Cowgill’s resignation with “mixed emotions.” He said Cowgill came on as interim president during a difficult period when the council was preparing its budget for the 2008 General Assembly session and in the midst of a gubernatorial campaign.
“Brad Cowgill came on the job ready to work and willing to act,” Turner’s statement said. “He is a person of great vision and his performance over these eight months has exceeded the council’s high expectations.”
Cowgill was the budget director under previous Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who was defeated in last fall’s election by Beshear. He was also a one-time partner in Beshear’s law firm.
But when the council earlier this month voted to employ Cowgill as permanent CPE President, Beshear objected, contending the law requires a national search for a candidate with a national academic reputation. He sought an advisory opinion from Attorney General Jack Conway who concurred with Beshear’s position.
“I appreciate Mr. Cowgill’s decision, which puts an end to a very difficult situation for everyone,” Beshear said. “I trust the council will now move forward with a nationwide search for a permanent president.”
The “difficult situation” began last year, during the gubernatorial election while the council sought a successor for the retiring Dr. Thomas Layzell. Cowgill applied for the job at that time, but was eliminated early on because the council didn’t want the consideration of the sitting governor’s budget director to be perceived as political, according to then council member Walter Baker. Baker has since rotated off the council.
But council members said then they were disappointed in the quality of applicants, which Baker attributed to the political uncertainty during the governor’s election. The council opted to suspend its search and employ an interim president to prepare for the 2008 General Assembly and resume its search after the session.
But in a surprise move on April 14, the council voted to employ Cowgill without conducting an additional search. Beshear immediately criticized the move and sought the opinion of Conway.
The council scheduled a special called meeting for Wednesday morning to consider a “personnel matter.” After meeting with Beshear Tuesday, Turner said, “It is very possible” the meeting would concern Cowgill. A spokeswoman for the council said late Tuesday afternoon after the release of Cowgill’s resignation that the special called meeting will still take place.
Beshear wasn’t the only person presumed to oppose Cowgill’s appointment as permanent president. Some university presidents were thought to oppose his employment, and last week, University of Kentucky President Dr. Lee Todd seemed to confirm that when he told a reporter he was “very close” when he asked Todd if all presidents had told the council they should not hire Cowgill.
Morehead State University President Dr. Wayne Andrews said Tuesday afternoon he hopes the council will now “move forward to find the most qualified person they can find.” But he did not criticize Cowgill.
“I’m very grateful to Brad Cowgill for the service he provided to the Council on Postsecondary Education,” Andrews said. “He came into the job at a very challenging time as interim president.”
Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, who has feuded with Beshear on several matters and who endorsed Cowgill’s hiring, said he “mourned the loss of Mr. Cowgill as president of the Council on Postsecondary Education.”
He said he appreciated Cowgill’s service and criticized Beshear for “interfering with the selection” by the CPE.
Cowgill’s effective resignation date hasn’t been determined.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.

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