Former presidents of the Board of Regents called on Gov. Jim Doyle Thursday to veto legislation that would change the selection process of UW System regents.
The legislation, which passed through the state Assembly and the state Senate earlier this fall, requires selection of at least one regent from seven different districts.
In a letter, the presidents said it is expected that each regent represent the entire state. They said one of the main goals of the board is ""maintaining a statewide focus for Board members.""
""By balkanizing representation and having some appointments based on geography, we are deeply concerned this commitment to the broader goals of the UW System will be compromised,"" they said.
The bill was prompted by criticism of the number of regents who are from the Milwaukee or Madison areas. According to the Board of Regents website, 12 out of the current 18 regents are from Dane or Milwaukee county.
State Sen. Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point, a sponsor of the bill, said she was disappointed to hear criticism of a bill that aims to increase citizen representation across the state.
""The current system effectively disenfranchises every Wisconsin citizen who does not live near Madison or Milwaukee … More than two thirds of the current citizen regents live in either Dane or Milwaukee counties,"" she said in a statement.
