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The Daily Tar Heel

Opinion: Board of Governors should own up to its political nature

CORRECTION: Due to a reporting error, a previous version of this editorial misstated the month of the announcement of UNC-system President Tom Ross' departure and related events. The events took place in January. The editorial has been updated to reflect this change.

Although the problem of money in politics has become a much-discussed issue in the presidential race, this issue is not confined to national politics. In fact, it reaches right to the heart of the UNC system’s governance.

According to an analysis by Democracy North Carolina, the 30 candidates for spots on the UNC Board of Governors in March and their immediate family members had given over $1 million in campaign donations since 2007.

The most prolific donor among them is John Fennebresque, the chairman of the board.

This indicates an inherently political board, and if the system is truly working, board members should be honest with the public (and themselves) about the ways partisan politics influence the board’s policy decisions.

In a May article in the Charlotte Observer, Fennebresque defended his political contributions, saying he made them to ensure he has an audience with legislators when lobbying for the UNC system.

This may be entirely true and done with noble intentions, but it still creates a problematic relationship between Fennebresque and legislators. And if the system doesn’t need wholesale reform, then it needs its leaders to acknowledge the process’ political nature in order to promote more honest, constructive and less vitriolic discussions.

Contending the process isn’t influenced by partisan politics — when highly controversial board decisions seem to reflect a different reality — only serves to magnify partisan distrust.

Fennebresque has said he doesn’t believe politics enter into the board’s discussions.

This is a naive view considering the board is appointed by the partisan N.C. General Assembly.

Last week, the (Raleigh) News & Observer reported it had obtained an email from a staffer in Fennebresque’s office dated Jan. 13, three days before Ross’ upcoming departure was announced. The email recounted a message left by Sen. Phil Berger (R-Guilford).

“Interested to talk about Tom Ross situation. Thanks,” the email said in part.

Fennebresque told The Daily Tar Heel he did not communicate with elected officials about the decision to remove UNC-system president Tom Ross before he met with Ross on Jan. 9, a week before it was announced, and four days before the date of the email reported by the N&O.

Maybe Fennebresque never had a conversation with Berger (whom he has donated money to) or any other legislator before the board made its decision, but the email suggests a communicative relationship, just one way partisan politics influence the board’s discussions.

There is an argument to be made that the actions of the Board of Governors, as appointees of an elected legislative body, generally represent the will of the voters of North Carolina.

But what seems clear is that the board is not untouched by politics, especially when the board is overwhelmingly Republican, with only one voting Democrat.

If the system is working, and the board is representing the will of North Carolina’s voters, then why assert that politics have nothing to do with the board’s decisions?

Open political discussions are the essence of democracy, and board members should be honest with the public about political influences on their policy decisions.

Honesty really is the best policy.

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