MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Gov. Robert Bentley put his stamp on the Alabama State University board of trustees on Friday as his new appointees were sworn in, replacing members he asked to resign or be removed.
However, ousted trustee Marvin Wiggins said he will fight his removal.
Bentley last month asked board chairman Elton Dean and vice chairman Wiggins to resign over conflicts of interests. Dean resigned voluntarily. Wiggins refused. Bentley then wrote to Wiggins, saying he was using his power as governor to remove him from the board. Bentley accused Wiggins of benefiting from $30,000 paid to his wife as director of Camp Eagle, a two-week summer program. He also accused Wiggins of violating his duty as trustee by not informing the board that his sister-in-law, who was hired by the university as a faculty member, had been disbarred in North Carolina.
Bentley said after Friday’s meeting that “time will tell,” but he hopes this would be a turning point for the university.
“I am very excited about this new board that we have in place. I’m very excited about our new president. I am relieved to see where we are,” Bentley said.
Bentley’s new appointees, Pam Ware and Ralph Ruggs, were sworn in as trustees Friday. Their appointments still must be confirmed by the Alabama Senate.
The revamped board elected trustee Larry Thornton as the new chairman.
