MONTGOMERY, Ala. ― State senators have blocked two of Gov. Robert Bentley’s four selections for the board of Alabama State University, prompting him to resume his search for trustees at the Montgomery university that has been a focus of his administration for more than a year.
The Senate Confirmations Committee voted Wednesday to block Bentley’s selection of Macon County school Superintendent Jacqueline Brooks and Tuscaloosa businessman Fitzgerald Washington. The committee unanimously approved Bentley’s selection of Montgomery attorney Robert Gilpin and Birmingham businessman Larry Thornton. Gilpin and Thornton now go to the Senate for a final vote to approve their appointments.
Gilpin, Thornton and Brooks have been trustees and were nominated by the governor for new terms. Washington would have replaced Thomas Figures of Mobile. The trustees set policies for the university and select the university president.
The committee’s rejection of Brooks and Washington means they can’t serve on the board of the Montgomery university. Committee Chairman Jabo Waggoner voted against both, along with Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston; Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Cam Ward, R-Alabaster; and Senate budget committee Chairman Arthur Orr, R-Decatur.
Waggoner said Gilpin and Thornton had lots of support, while Brooks and Washington had opposition that included the senator who represents Alabama State, Democrat Quinton Ross of Montgomery. Orr said he voted against the two because he had never met them and Ross asked that they not be approved.
“They give me too much credit,” Ross said Wednesday. He said the vote for rejection came mostly from Republicans who are upset the governor has continued to push for a 2 percent raise for education employees after they thought they had an agreement with him that he wouldn’t.
Orr said that’s incorrect.
