Black leaders criticize USF list of trustee

Some view Bush's picks as a further indication of his insensitivity.

By BARRY KLEIN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 27, 2001

State Sen. Les Miller cannot believe Gov. Jeb Bush did not appoint a single African-American from the Tampa Bay area to the University of South Florida's new board of trustees.

Miller, a Tampa Democrat and member of the legislative black caucus, says he told Bush that Monday night, a few hours after the 13-member board was announced.

"He said those were the people he thought could do the best job," Miller said Tuesday. "I think it's ridiculous that he didn't think there was one African-American from the area worthy of the choice."

That sentiment was echoed by a number of black leaders, some of whom viewed the USF appointments as the latest example of what they see as Bush's insensitivity to minority concerns. All but one of the 13 trustees are white, and the sole African-American is from outside the state.

"I think it stinks," said Ann Porter, a USF graduate and former president of the Tampa chapter of the NAACP. "It's another sign of how they think our opinions don't really count."

A Bush spokeswoman said the appointments mean no such thing.

The governor's office sought applicants through local NAACP's and urban leagues, said Bush spokeswoman Liz Hirst.

"There was a call for candidates far and wide," she said.

But while diversity is important, Bush's definition of the term may be more expansive than those of his critics, Hirst said. The governor's includes such factors as geography and life experience.

"Ethnicity alone will never be the overriding factor," Hirst said.

Records show that at least nine African-Americans from the Tampa Bay area applied for a seat on USF's board. The list includes former St. Petersburg City Council member David Welch, two attorneys, a dean at Hillsborough Community College and a paralegal.

Their competition included former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, Outback Steakhouse founder Chris Sullivan and TECO president John Ramil. All received appointments.

So did a former member of the state Board of Regents, a former chief of staff at Tampa General Hospital and the current chairman of the USF Foundation.

It didn't help that some of the best-qualified African-Americans from the Tampa Bay area declined to apply.

Ike Tribble, president of the Florida Education Fund and a former university system vice chancellor, said he would have been interested if he thought he had a chance.

"But I'm not a Republican," Tribble said.

Twelve of the 13 people Bush appointed are Republicans.

Calvin Harris, chairman of the Pinellas County Commission, was nominated for a board seat but never filled out an application. He also is a Democrat.

"The governor and his people know there are plenty of qualified African-Americans from the area that could have been appointed," Harris said. "Their reasons for not doing it are known only to them."

There is one African-American on USF's board -- H. Patrick Swygert, the president of historically black Howard University in Washington D.C. He was the only person nominated by USF president Judy Genshaft.

Swygert did not return calls Tuesday seeking comment.

But Genshaft said she is convinced USF's new board has a strong commitment to diversity.

"Our trustees understand that we will emerge as a premier research university by doing an excellent job of serving a very large, very diverse metropolitan region," she said.

Almost all of the new trustees, two of whom are Hispanic, were recruited by the Tampa Bay Partnership, a business group that used chambers of commerce and economic development agencies to identify candidates.

Lee Arnold, a new trustee and the Partnership's chairman, said his group was "very cognizant" of the need for diversity.

He said he tried to convince St. Petersburg Police Chief Goliath Davis to apply for the board. He also talked to Harris.

"We did everything we could to get the best candidates," he said.

All of those who did apply were required to answer dozens of questions. Some concerned their personal and professional backgrounds; others dealt with their roles as trustees.

The only question that touched on diversity asked whether the applicant had belonged to a club or organization during the last three years that restricted membership on the basis of race.

None had.

Most of their answers dealt with more tangible issues.

Ramil discussed the trustees' role in soliciting donations from USF's maturing alumni base.

"Only now are the first alumni reaching their peak earning potential," he wrote. "Trustees must explore every means to connect with alumni -- most still in this market -- and communicate the importance of helping USF grow and succeed."

Robert Soran, president and chief operating officer of Uniroyal Technology Corp., talked about his business background, and its relevance to board operations.

"I have extensive experience in operating successful, multimillion-dollar businesses and I believe I can utilize this knowledge and experience to help guide USF," he wrote. "The areas of accountability, financial responsibility, preformance-based management systems and strong strategic leadership are fundamental requirements of the Board of Trustees."

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