Governor appoints three to Board of Regents

Governor Tom Vilsack has appointed three new people to the board that governs the state universities. Vilsack today released a long list of his appointments to state boards and commissions, all of whom must win confirmation from the state Senate. Republican Amir Arbisser of Davenport is a doctor who’s been appointed to the Board of Regents. He says he’s long had an interest in education. Arbisser acknowledges there are challenges ahead for higher education as they try to deal with tight budgets. Arbisser became friends with Governor Vilsack about 20 years ago when Arbisser testified as an expert witness in a legal case Vilsack was working on.Democrats Sue Nieland of Sioux City and Mary Ellen Becker of Oskaloosa have been appointed to the Board of Regents, too. Vilsack also re-appointed Mike Mahaffey, former char of the Iowa Republican Party, to the State Racing and Gaming Commission. Patricia Crawford of Des Moines and former Davenport Mayor Thomas Hart were appointed to the Department of Transportation Commission.