A trend shows the LSU Board of Supervisors members often were appointed by governors whose campaigns the members contributed to. But two members of the LSU Board of Supervisors feel their seats are not solely based on donations to the governor. Chairman Jerry Shea of New Iberia and Chairman-Elect James Roy of Lafayette said their donations to University organizations and previous experience in state positions contributed to their qualifications as Board members. Shea said he thinks the governor does not base his decision for appointment based solely on campaign donations. Rather, he or she looks for qualified people to manage issues of the LSU System. “I think the governor also needs to look for quality people who can assist,” Shea said. Gov. Bobby Jindal will have opportunity this June to appoint up to four members to the Board. Shea and his family donated $31,000 to former Gov. Kathleen Blanco since 1998. Shea, however, said he gave Blanco money because of his family relationship with the former governor. “Kathleen is also my first cousin,” Shea said. “We have a lot of family members that gave money.” Shea said because all the contributions given by his family members, the funds donated are not necessarily from him. “I didn’t give all that money,” he said. Shea also attributed his appointment to the Board to his previous service to boards in the state. Shea mentioned his numerous donations to various University funds. “My wife and I gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to the University,” he said. Shea said the governor should consider the attributes of the individual rather than the money they put forth to any particular campaign. “I think that the governors look at and should look at these sort of things,” Shea said. Shea also suggested the need for a diversity of occupations on the Board. He said the Board needs lawyers, doctors, architects and contractors in order to provide a “cross section” of people to serve on the Board. Contributions made by Roy and his company total $59,000 since 1998. Roy attributed his qualifications as a Board member to his academic service to the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and other organizations. “Long before I was appointed to the Board of Supervisors, I was in the LSU Alumni Board of Trustees,” Roy said. Roy is an attorney and graduate of the law school. “I’ve raised a lot of money for the LSU law school,” Roy said. In addition to his donations, Roy stressed that although he is entitled to reimbursement for mileage, hotel and meals during Board meetings, he has never asked for it. “I have never once submitted a single reimbursement voucher,” Roy said. Roy also said the public deserves to know the other contributions of Board members to the state and the System and not just campaign donations. “The public is entitled to truthfulness and balance and completeness,” Roy said. Three Blanco-appointed Board members with the largest donations to her campaign include Alvin Kimble of Baton Rouge, Laura Leach of Lake Charles and Member-at-Large Ben Mount of Lake Charles. Kimble donated $10,000 since 2003, Leach donated $12,500 since 1998 and Mount donated $10,500 since 1998, according to campaign finance reports available through the Louisiana Ethics Administration. Four of the five members whose terms are ending in June may be reappointed or replaced by Jindal. The last member is the student member set to be replaced in June as well. The Council of Student Body Presidents meets in May to appoint the student member of the Board. The Board serves as the management board of the LSU System, which includes seven academic campuses, two medical schools and 11 public hospitals in Louisiana.
—-Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]