Officer elections splinter LSU board

• By JORDAN BLUM
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Aug 28, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The LSU Board of Supervisors is being splintered over officer elections and late lobbying efforts from the Governor’s Office, in what some are calling an attempted “coup.”

Board leaders had long expected Alvin Kimble, a Baton Rouge business owner, to assume the chairman-elect position without serious opposition.

But in the past few days Gov. Bobby Jindal’s top aide has been seeking votes for Dr. John George, of Shreveport.

“The board is going to be destroyed by this,” said board member Tony Falterman, of Napoleonville, complaining about politics taking over the board. “There’s going to be bitterness.”

Board member Jim Roy, of Lafayette, is automatically in line to become the new chairman. The controversy concerns today’s election of the chairman-elect, who will take over in fall 2009.

The LSU System board has 16 members who oversee policies and spending for the LSU campuses and public hospitals across the state.

Some board members speculated that the chairman-elect debate started after disagreements between LSU officials and the Jindal administration concerning the future of health care in New Orleans.

Jindal’s Chief of Staff Timmy Teepell helped George drum up last-minute votes.

Falterman said Teepell told board member Ben Mount, of Lake Charles, he would not be reappointed by Jindal if he did not support George.

Mount did not return two phone messages Wednesday.

When asked for an interview Wednesday, Teepell requested delaying questions until after Jindal’s afternoon news conference on Hurricane Gustav. Teepell then left during the news conference.

Teepell then issued a prepared statement: “I think John George would do a good job as chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, and I have called friends on the board to let them know that as well.”

Jindal press secretary Melissa Sellers, said the governor would not answer questions on the topic for now.