Gov. Tony Evers appointed two people to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Tuesday afternoon, shortly after state Senate Republicans voted to fire two unconfirmed Regents.
The Regents both voted against a December deal between the UW System and the Republican-controlled state Legislature capping diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in exchange for construction funding.
The two fired Regents, John Miller and Dana Wachs, are among 22 of Gov. Evers’ appointees to state offices that have been fired during his two terms.
Evers quickly condemned the move in a Tuesday press release.
"Senate Republicans are continuing their unprecedented efforts to baselessly fire capable, qualified Wisconsinites who are volunteering their skills, time, and energy to serve our state, and for no reason other than petty, partisan politics,” Evers said. “Republicans have turned a basic duty of government into a political circus, and the ones who pay the price are the people of Wisconsin.”
Republicans also voted to fire four Evers appointees to the Wisconsin Judicial Commission, one appointee to the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Board and one appointee to the Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse.
Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, defended the firings as keeping the Judicial Commission “neutral and above partisanship,” according to WisPolitics
Evers appointed lawyer Haben Goitom and educator Amy Traynor to the Board of Regents to replace Wachs and Miller.
