Brown names top deputy to university board

The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Gov. Jerry Brown has filled the last opening on the University of California’s governing board with a member of his staff.

The governor on Friday named his legislative affairs secretary, Gareth Elliott, to a 12-year term on the UC Board of Regents. The 44-year-old Elliott is a Humboldt State University graduate who has been Brown’s top legislative liaison for five years.

The appointment comes amid a looming budget showdown over funding for the 10-campus university system. Over Brown’s objections, a majority of the regents in November approved a series of provisional tuition increases UC President Janet Napolitano said would be implemented unless the system received more money from Sacramento.

Brown also named two regents in November, but 11 of the board’s 18 appointed regents were appointed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Another vacancy isn’t expected until 2016.

[Source]: Fresno Bee