With a Board of Supervisors meeting looming, Gov. Bobby Jindal appointed former state Sen. Ann Duplessis and Rolfe McCollister, a Jindal campaign contributor, to the LSU Board of Supervisors on Thursday. The appointments are the latest in a series of shake-ups in Louisiana higher education that include Chancellor Michael Martin leaving for the Colorado State University System and the firing of LSU System President John Lombardi. Jindal also reappointed two existing members. Three of the four are Jindal campaign contributors. Duplessis currently serves as the deputy chief administrative officer for New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Jindal previously named her to the board in 2011. However, she failed to gain Senate confirmation.
McCollister is the founder and president of Louisiana Business Inc. From 1988 to 1994, McCollister was an appointed member of the LSU Board of Supervisors and its chairman in 1991. He also served as treasurer for the 2007 gubernatorial campaign of Bobby Jindal and as chairman for Jindal’s transition team. According to a report by the Associated Press, he has contributed $17,000 to Jindal’s campaign since 2003.
Jindal reappointed Stanley Jacobs, a New Orleans-based lawyer, and Shreveport Doctor John George. Jacobs’ donations to the Jindal campaign total $5,000. George’s donations equal $10,000, according to the Associated Press report.
The board will play a vital role in choosing the replacements for Martin and Lombardi. With the latest changes, 12 people on the 16-member board are Jindal appointments.
The board meets this afternoon to vote on the appointment of William Jenkins as the interim Chancellor of the University. Jenkins is currently serving as the LSU system’s interim president. ____ Contact Joshua Bergeron at [email protected]
Jindal appoints campaign contributors to LSU Board of Supervisors
June 7, 2012