CPE defies Beshear, hires Cowgill as permanent president

Late word from a meeting of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) indicates that the Council has defied Governor Beshear by voting to hire Brad Cowgill as the permanent president of the Council. The Courier-Journal reports:

The state Council on Postsecondary Education today named Brad Cowgill as its president.

Cowgill, a state budget director during the Fletcher administration, has held the position on an interim basis since last year.

That appointment expires April 30, and he will take over as the permanent chief on May 1.

Last week Gov. Steve Beshear asked the council to undertake a national search to fill the position.

A motion for such a search failed to win the council’s approval at its meeting today, and members then voted to name Cowgill to the position.

Our sources indicate that the members of CPE valued the work Cowgill had been doing for higher education in Kentucky and resented Beshear's attempt to meddle with their decision-making process.

Comments

CPE gave Beshear the finger. I love it!!!!!!!!!

Wow, it doesn't sound like they even considered Beshear's request. Four months in, KY's governor is completely irrelevant.

I've had the pleasure of working with Brad Cowgill in the past and he is a man passionate about public service and higher education in Kentucky.

He has and will continue to do an outstanding job as CPE. Congrats Brad!

[Tag]

Mr Cowgill was the Kentucky Budget Director for the Fletcher administration and he still has a job!!!??? And now we are giving him our education system???

Mr. Cowgill was hired as an "interim" and immediately redecorated his suite... knowing there was a massive budget crisis, and a very real educational challenge across the state... he chose to spend our money and his time getting new furniture, paint and carpet????? REALLY???

Maybe Mr. Cowgill is a nice guy... thats' great but "being nice" isn't good enough for my boss and sure isn't good enough for our kids.

Kentucky needs a professional who has dedicated their lives/careers promoting education, not another friend-of-a-friend who just needs a job

[Chris Andersen]

1 - The budget director doesn't decide upon the budget he writes the budget based on what the legislature appropriates. So if you are angry about the state of the budget under Cowgill's tenure then be upset with the legislature that appropriated the money.

2 - There was no re-decoration. This winter the roof on the CPE building in Frankfort literally fell in. That is the roof collapsed and snow and ice hit the office floors. New carpet and furniture was bought to replace what was lost.

[Chris Andersen]

1 - The budget director doesn't decide upon the budget he writes the budget based on what the legislature appropriates. So if you are angry about the state of the budget under Cowgill's tenure then be upset with the legislature that appropriated the money.

2 - There was no re-decoration. This winter the roof on the CPE building in Frankfort literally fell in. That is the roof collapsed and snow and ice hit the office floors. New carpet and furniture was bought to replace what was lost.