DFL, divided on University of Minnesota regent candidates, may hand off decision to Walz

DFL legislators in the House and Senate can’t agree on the best candidates for four open University of Minnesota Board of Regents slots, so they won’t schedule a joint convention to make the final selections, House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler told MinnPost.

Alongside passing the budget, the Legislature elects regents during odd-number years. The process, often decried as partisan, usually wraps up quickly once it begins. But it’s been seven weeks since the House and Senate higher education committees met together to select five finalists for the open spots. If legislators don’t elect regents by the time the session adjourns May 20, the task will fall to the governor.

“In past years, Democrats have not been united around candidates,” Winkler said. “We do not want to repeat that mistake.”

A group of legislators who oppose the shortlist of candidates that cleared a joint higher education committee in February have said the slate doesn’t include enough people of color.

Read more: https://www.minnpost.com/education/2019/04/dfl-divided-on-u-of-m-regent-candidates-may-hand-off-decision-to-walz/