Board of Visitors selection linked to political donations

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Board of Visitors selection linked to political donations
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2013/09/bov-members-donate-prior-to-selection

Individuals donate millions to gubernatorial campaigns, political action committees

by Alia Sharif and Catherine Valentine | Sep 30

Fifteen of the 17 current Board of Visitors members contributed to the campaigns of the governors who nominated them, reflecting a statewide trend of political contributors being placed on public university governing bodies, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project.

“The University of Virginia Board of Visitors is one of the most competitive boards in the Commonwealth and it currently consists of 13 U.Va. alumni out of 17 seats,” Gov. Bob McDonnell’s spokesperson Paul Shanks said in an email.

Of the 15 Board members who donated to gubernatorial campaigns, 14 donated to McDonnell’s. But Shanks denied any causal link between financial support and appointment to the Board.

"Gov. Bob McDonnell’s spokesperson Paul Shanks?" Where did Tucker Martin go? Also, note that the word used is "governors," plural, so this is not likely to be a new practice.