House members approved this week a bill that outlines the procedures for nominating members to the UNC Board of Governors.
The bill sets specific deadlines for when nominations can occur, as well as when a vote must take place. Many of these procedures were missing in previous administrations and the publication of the rules brings transparency to the nomination process that has been missing in years past.
House members must approve eight members to fill their portion of the 16 open seats on the Board of Governors. These terms would begin on July 1.
Election procedures in 2005 were criticized when House and Senate members failed to nominate a full slate of candidates as well as to vote on the candidates within a timely manner. State law states that there should be at least 16 qualified candidates on the ballots. In previous years, House and Senate members were only voting on the eight nominees advanced for a floor vote by committee members.
The release of the House procedures sets up a month-long nomination process that could conclude by April 3. However, the House’s nomination committee will receive nominees from members next week, until Friday. Each House member can nominate two individuals.
Once the nomination deadline has passed, nominees will be required to file a Statement of Economic Interest with the North Carolina State Ethics Commission. The statement is part of the new ethics legislation and is required of all members serving on governing boards in the state. That is to occur no later than March 23.
Committee members will then examine the list of nominees, beginning after March 17, to determine if they are qualified, based on experience and statutory suitability, according to the procedures. The committee must then vote to ensure “that the slate of legally qualified candidates lists 16 candidates if 16 or more have been nominated.”
Once all steps have been completed, a vote would occur no later than April 3.
According to the procedures, no nominations may be received on the floor and each member must vote for eight nominees. Failure to vote for eight would void a ballot.
The Senate has yet to release voting procedures for its slate of nominees.