Friday, November 10, 2006

Why not Jim Leach for UI prexy?

Why not? He's already got the sweater!

More to follow.

posted by Dan Clark @ 6:26 PM   2 comments

2 Comments:

At November 10, 2006 10:23 PM, Blogger Dan Clark said...

I took on the challenge of reviving the Leach "rumor" in answer to the e-mail sent throughout the University of Iowa community by Teresa Wahlert, chair of the UI presidential search committee and president pro-tem of the Board of Regents. Here's the e-mail I sent her, along with a copy of hers and the other snippets I attached. - Dan Clark


Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 15:30:57 -0600
To: Teresa Wahlert twahlert@midamericagroup.com
From: "Daniel G. Clark" dclark@muscanet.com
Subject: Re: university of iowa presidential search

Ms. Wahlert,

Thanks for soliciting suggestions from Iowans.

I have already spoken my suggestion on this morning's "Talk of Iowa" program on public radio: Draft Jim Leach!

Our ever-honorable "model citizen" can go anywhere and do anything he chooses, but the time is ripe for courting him for the UI presidency, and I don't think your committee will do any better otherwise, however extended or inclusive your search.

The rumor has been squelched before, but I'd love to do whatever it takes to revive it and make it come true. Of course, if I had my way, Jim would become our next US ambassador to the UN, but today I'm dazzled by the thought of keeping him in Iowa--AT IOWA. If your group would see the way clear to make the offer and he would have the grace to accept, this could be a fortuitous choice of historic proportions!

You have pointed out the desirability of a president with “a passion for staying,” and the Leaches have already chosen Iowa City as their home.

Please call on me if you want help developing the case for a Leach candidacy. Meanwhile I'll feed the rumor. Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Daniel G. Clark
1221 Mulberry Avenue
Muscatine, IA 52761


http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/NEWS09/61108010
At the Linn County Republican gathering at the Best Western Hotel in Cedar Rapids, Leach and his wife, Deba, and two children entered the room for Leach’s concession speech and found teary and visibly upset supporters.

“For three decades, I’ve had … the goal from the beginning of running positive campaigns,” Leach said. “I want to express my deep respect for the Loebsack campaign.”

He said that years ago he told his wife and family he would have one thing to say when his political career came to an end: “This is the happiest day of my life. It’s as if a burden has been lifted.”

He added: “I will just tell you, internally, I wanted to be a model citizen. I look forward to resuming that role.”


http://mypc.press-citizen.com/forums/message.php?id_forums=1&id_messages=315
From: Teresa Wahlert
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 2:53 PM
Subject: university of iowa presidential search

good afternoon,

i know that each and every one of you has a stake in and is engaged in the search for a new president of the university of iowa. as we approach the final stages of the search process, it is very important to me that i hear from you, any and all questions and issues you would like me to raise with the candidates who will be interviewed for this important position.

please reflect on the most significant areas that you personally believe the new president of the university of iowa should be mindful of, focused upon, and be ready to engage in --- and e-mail those reflections to me at twahlert@midamericagroup.com by close of business on thursday, november 9, 2006.

on a personal note, from the very beginning of this search process, when Iiwas asked to chair this search, i have had only one singular and primary goal -- that goal is to attract, recruit, and hire the best person in the country to lead the university of iowa.

this goal and this process cannot be completed without your input.

i look forward to reviewing your responses and exploring your ideas and ideals with the candidates for this prestigious and important position.

thank you,

teresa wahlert
chair of the presidential search committee, president pro-tem of the board of regents


http://press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060620/NEWS01/60620002&SearchID=73262340567303
The regent in charge of the University of Iowa’s search for a new president told the UI Faculty Council today that the school’s new leader would need “a passion for staying,” and that a higher presidential salary would likely be part of keeping a new president around.


http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/02/05/news/state/doc43e57fc36d544650967937.prt
IOWA CITY (AP) — Politicians may be considered as candidates to become the new University of Iowa president, but state regents have rejected rumors that Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, might be in line for the job.
[...]
“You look at anybody,” said Michael Gartner, of Des Moines, Iowa regents president. “You don’t rule anybody out.”

 
At November 10, 2006 11:28 PM, Blogger Dan Clark said...

Two days later, I sent out another open letter. - Dan Clark


Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 11:00:10 -0600
To: [...]
From: "Daniel G. Clark" dclark@muscanet.com
Subject: Leach for UI prexy update

Thanks to all of you who answered me and/or sent copies of your messages to search chairwoman Teresa Wahlert twahlert@midamericagroup.com.

I've authorized publishing my Wednesday e-mail (excerpted) as a letter-to-the-editor in today's Iowa City Press-Citizen. Meanwhile, a P-C story (below) tells me I'm not alone and I'm not nuts. Happily, I have no idea who else and how many others have been acting independently or in concert toward the same aim.

Naturally, I'm grateful to see "my" idea snowballing. It was never mine alone, of course, but my Wednesday initiative was totally solo, not consulting anyone before acting on an urgent impulse. Yesterday I drove to Chicago and back and didn't do anything at all on the Leach idea, except to return one call and check e-mail when I got home. I found several positive responses and a couple of cautions, mild ones, so mostly I'm getting a green light from everyone I've heard from.

I won't bother you with ongoing e-mail, but today I will create a blog entry at http://iowaglobal.blogspot.com/. Then the conversation can grow from there (as well as wherever else), and I'll do my best to post relevant links.

By the by, I don't recall who I heard say this first. Maybe it was even Dave Loebsack, although I think it dates to some earlier challenger. Anyway, it's my favorite slogan for this campaign: "Why not? He's already got the sweater!"

Dan


http://press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061110/NEWS01/611100305/1079
Friday, November 10, 2006

UI presidency next for Leach?

Some speculate on congressman, job

By Brian Morelli
Iowa City Press-Citizen


AMES -- With defeated U.S. Rep. Jim Leach out of a job, speculation -- or at least curiosity -- about him being in the mix of candidates to become the University of Iowa's next president has surfaced once again.

But two days after he lost his bid for a 16th term in Congress, the Iowa City Republican is mum on the topic.

"I have no idea about that and it would be very, very inappropriate for me to comment," Leach, 64, said Thursday. "Of all subjects you've asked about, this is one I'll refrain from."

One thing is clear among UI leaders -- their respect and admiration for Leach. However, less clear is whether they think he would be a worthy successor to David Skorton, who was named president of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

"Jim has a lot of valuable experience that would make him a good candidate for all sorts of positions," UI Staff Council President Mary Greer said Thursday while at an Iowa state Board of Regents board meeting in Ames. "(But) UI is best served by individuals with strong academic background and strong academic experience."

Greer, who also serves on the 19-member President Search Committee, is bound by a confidentiality agreement prohibiting her from saying whether Leach is a candidate. But she said the committee will continue to consider new candidates until the regents hire someone.

Leach, who represented the 2nd Congressional District until his loss Tuesday to Democratic challenger Dave Loebsack, has been an Iowa congressman since 1976.

Teresa Wahlert, search committee chairwoman and regent pro tem and Regent President Michael Gartner, citing confidentiality agreements in their search roles, both declined comment about Leach and the vacant UI president's job.

In an appearance before the regents to update them on the search, Wahlert would only say, "The committee is busy working and will continue to do so until we have the best person in the country to be the next president of UI."

UI engineering professor Steve Collins chaired the presidential search for Mary Sue Coleman, who was president before Skorton. He is still bound by confidentiality agreements, so he could not say if Leach had been a candidate during his search. But he said it was not uncommon for politicians or community or business leaders to be nominated, although it would be unusual for them to get the job.

"It is very unusual for such individuals to make the short list or finalists or to be appointed, but there are exceptions," Collins said. "People recognize it is hard to be effective in leading a major research university without direct substantial experience in academic leadership."

Regent Amir Arbisser said Leach possessed "wonderful" qualities and strengths, although he did not elaborate on whether Leach would be suitable to lead a university.

UI Interim President Gary Fethke complimented Leach's civility, but he said he was unsure if Leach possessed the qualities to be the UI president.

"Whether this is the right job for him, I don't know. I don't have a definite opinion on that," Fethke said.

Wahlert has said she hopes to name a new president by the end of the year, though the selection could spill over to 2007.

The search committee is only charged with selecting finalists to submit to the regents. Off campus interviews with 10 or 11 candidates are slated for this Saturday in Chicago, according to minutes from an Oct. 18 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Assembly meeting.

Faculty Assembly President Richard Hurtig said in the search update presented by committee members and UI faculty Steve McGuire and Francois Abboud that they are optimistic for on-campus interviews in early December. UI faculty and staff leaders have expressed concern that the on campus interview may not happen.

Reach Brian Morelli at 339-7360 or bmorelli@press-citizen.com.
Press-Citizen reporter Mike McWilliams contributed to this report.

 

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