To those familiar with the past several decades in Texas politics, James Huffines' recent ascent to chairman of the UT Board of Regents harks back to the legacy of former Gov. Bill Clements and the Republican takeover of Texas government.
Clements began his career as an oilman and was a political outsider when he became the first Republican governor elected to office since Reconstruction. Texan columnist David Nather stated in 1987, "Clements ran for office as a businessman who would run government like a business." The governor kept his word, pushing for government spending cuts.
During Clements' second term, Huffines served as the governor's appointments secretary and oversaw the selection of numerous UT regents. He touted Clement's business philosophy when selecting candidates for the board. Quoted in The Daily Texan as saying he looked for candidates "experienced with budget planning, experienced in business and the professional world," Huffines drew sharp criticism from students such as Nather who disagreed with his practice of excluding educators.
In fact, Clements avoided educators completely when selecting regents, choosing instead two Texas oilmen, one of whom was a former head of the Texas Republican Party, several businessmen and investors, and former U.S. Rep. Tom Loeffler, who had lobbied for the Nicaraguan contras, according to the Texan.
One particular board appointee in 1987, Louis Beecherl, Jr. of Dallas, received particular attention from the Texas Senate for allegedly promising Clements that he would vote against re-electing Jess Hay as chairman of the UT board. Hay was a strong supporter of increased funding for higher education, an area that Clements felt deserved some budget cuts, according to the Texan. The incident shed light on the governor's political influence over state policies.
The more things change, the more things seem to stay the same. Gov. Perry's influence in Huffines' election to chairman is without question.
In an Austin American-Statesman article appearing last month, UT Regent Rita Clements, Clements' wife, pointed out Huffines' close personal relationship with Perry. He also raised more than a million dollars for Perry's election campaign. Thus, it proved to be no surprise that he was the only potential candidate to replace former Chairman Charles Miller.
While most news articles on the new board chairman focus on whether he will improve accountability of the System's UTIMCO investments, little attention is paid to his total lack of experience in higher education.
As a regional chairman for PlainsCapital Bank, Huffines fits his own criteria as appointments secretary impeccably.
Directing a public institution of higher education requires much more than good business sense and political connections. Clements' Republican legacy over the past 20 years, fraught with declining appropriations to higher education and increased tuition, attests to this fact.
With all the issues facing Texas universities today, now is not the time to continue business as usual. Whomever is chosen to fill outgoing regent Miller's position should have a firm grasp on student interests and what it means to have a first-rate education.
Otherwise, students may find themselves waiting in line one day at PlainsCapital Bank trying to take out loans to pay for their education. It's time students had a friend on the board.
Pruett is a history senior and a member of UT Watch.
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