Letter: Board of Regents should be elected

Iowa's 'Good Old Boy System” is alive and smells worse than ever.

Gov. Terry Branstad's appointment of Mike Richards to the Board of Regents is one of the most flagrant abuses of 'Lame Duck” appointment that I have seen. Not only has Richards been a major contributor to the Branstad campaign over the years, he also is previous president of the Wild Rose Casino and Resort.

We need to vet the rest of the board to find out if other members have casino attachments. The Board of Regents has proved itself to be above the wishes of the people with its meetings that are not open to the public and its political makeup. We need to move this board to a vote by the people of Iowa and not one of political appointments.

Jim Rooney

Cedar Rapids