MONTGOMERY Ala.—Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has called a special meeting of the Alabama State University Board of Trustees to discuss the search for a new school president and an audit critical of the university’s finances.
Meanwhile, a west Alabama district attorney said he has taken over an investigation of the school’s finances.
The governor sent a letter to the trustees Friday calling a board meeting for 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 at ASU.
Bentley has asked the board to delay the presidential search in light of the audit. But the board’s presidential search committee members said Thursday they would not delay their work. The committee trimmed the field of candidates to 11 at Thursday’s meeting held partly behind closed doors.
In his letter Friday, the governor said he would not consider a motion to hold the Oct. 28 meeting in private. Bentley serves as president of the ASU board.
The governor said earlier he had asked the attorney general’s office and the U.S. attorney to investigate ASU’s finances. But Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has recused himself from the case because he once represented Alabama State as a private lawyer before becoming attorney general.
Chris McCool, district attorney for Lamar, Pickens and Fayette counties, said Friday he was now handling the investigation for the attorney general’s office. But McCool said he could not discuss the case because it involves an ongoing investigation.
