Update: Voters did not like the idea of out of state residents serving on college management boards. The constitutional amendment was soundly defeated 76-24 percent. Statewide voter turnout was 15%.
There’s one constitutional amendment on the December 5th ballot. It asks voters if out of state residents should be allowed to serve on college management boards.
Currently, the members who serve on college and university boards must live in the state.
“The idea is to bring in talent, maybe financial support, different perspectives. It’s a move that’s supported by the college systems themselves,” said Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott.
College boards are comprised of two members from each of the six congressional districts and three at large members. The Amendment allows the governor to appoint two of the three at large members to be out-of-state residents.
Scott said some question if the Amendment is brought about now to appoint a specific person.
“I think a lot of people thought that maybe what’s behind this is there’s a particular person they want on there. I think it’s more a matter of remorse looking in the past of people they could have had on,” said Scott.
The legislature passed the constitutional amendment in the fall special session and a companion statue is named the Lod Cook Act. Lod Cook was a big-time LSU donor who lived in California.
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