Beshear upset by Cowgill election to education post

This from the Herald-Leader:

FRANKFORT --The state Council on Postsecondary Education hired Lexington lawyer Brad Cowgill Monday to lead Kentucky's higher education system, defying
objections by Gov. Steve Beshear and possibly running afoul of state law.

Cowgill, 56, has been the council's interim president since Sept. 1. The Democrat had previously been budget director for Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican, who lost to Beshear in November.

Earlier this month, Beshear warned the council that state law requires them to conduct a national search and hire a professional educator of national reputation in postsecondary education.

Beshear said he was "very disappointed" by the council's decision. "It seems apparent that a number of folks were more interested in bulldozing through a selection," Beshear said.

The governor said he and his staff were reviewing their options, but he declined to discuss them.

Council chairman John Turner of Lebanon said no search was necessary because "we have the right person in place."

The council reached its decision to hire Cowgill after closed sessions Sunday night and Monday.

Cowgill received 10 votes, with two abstentions. Two members were absent, and one seat is vacant.

Just before that vote, Vice Chairman Dan Flanagan of Campbellsville made a motion to conduct a new search. The motion was defeated overwhelmingly on a voice vote.

State Auditor Crit Luallen, who coordinated the team that put together the 1997 higher education reform bill, said the council's decision "raises a legal question that still needs to be answered." ...