Board of Regents nominees vow to be independent-minded

DES MOINES — Three appointees to the state Board of Regents pledged Monday to be independent voices for students on a nine-member panel that one Democratic senator worried is skewing too far Republican under Gov. Terry Branstad.

'I think that we will come with an open mind and fresh eyes, and look at things as they are now, not as they were,' said Patricia Cownie.

The Des Moines mother of nine drew some chuckles from Senate committee members when she noted that being an independent thinker is essential when raising a large family.

Cownie and the other regent nominees, Mary Andringa of Mitchellville and University of Northern Iowa student Rachael Johnson of Sioux City, drew praise as highly qualified candidates with strong credentials who are likely to win confirmation by the Iowa Senate.

If confirmed, they would serve on the board that oversees Iowa's three state universities and two special schools.

Andringa and Cownie are Republicans, while Johnson has no political party affiliation.

During Monday's meeting, Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, said he was 'disappointed' the governor did not abide by the spirit of legislative intent that state boards and commissions be balanced by political affiliation, gender and region by assembling a regents' panel that will be made up of five Republicans, two Democrats and two independents.

'I'm sorry the governor chose to do that,' Dvorsky said.

'This is way unusual,' Dvorsky told reporters after Monday's committee meeting. 'I don't think in all my years here it's ever happened like this before.

For fairness and equity, he said, the board's political makeup should be closer to the breakdown of Iowa's electorate. 'I don't think the governor has a mandate to do this,' he said.

However, Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers pointed to an Iowa Code section for boards and commissions that states that no more than one-half of a board plus one can be of the same party.

'So, in the case of the nine-member Board of Regents, no more than five can be of the same party,' Centers said in a statement.

'Gov. Branstad is appreciative of the outgoing regents' service,' Centers said of departing Regents Bob Downer of Iowa City, Ruth Harkin of Cumming and student Hannah Walsh, whose six-year terms are set to expire at the end of April.

'He believes that Ms. Andringa, Ms. Cownie and Ms. Johnson will be exceptional additions to the board and looks forward to their service as the administration continues to strive to offer affordable, world-class higher education,' added Centers. The appointments of Andringa, Cownie and Johnson 'were made in accordance with Iowa law regarding party identification and gender balance,' Centers added.

If confirmed by two-thirds of Iowa's senators — or 34 votes — the new members will join the board effective May 1.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said he expected the committee to approve the regent appointees Wednesday, and he did not foresee a problem with their nominations before the full Senate.

Andringa is chief executive officer and chair of the board for Vermeer Corp., an industrial and agricultural equipment company based in Pella. She serves on the Iowa Business Council and as co-leader of Iowa STEM initiative.

Cownie is the mother of Rep. Peter Cownie, R-West Des Moines, and has served for 15 years on the board of Drake University — a post she said she will exit if confirmed as a regent.

Johnson is an education major at UNI in Cedar Falls.