Gov. Mike Leavitt doesn't have anyone in particular in mind to replace Steven E. Snow on the Utah State Board of Regents and is open to appointing either a Democrat or a Republican.
"The law stipulates that I can't have more than eight members of one political party on the board," Leavitt said. "I'm told by a person on my staff who takes care of that that I have the option of going either way because I have a couple of independents on the board."Snow, who was appointed to be a regent in 1983, currently is chairman of the 16-member board. Traditionally, the chairman is a member of the same political party as the governor. However, Snow is a Democrat - the first such departure from tradition in recent memory.
On July 1, Snow will become a mission president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving the newly created California-San Fernando mission. His church calling will last three years.
Appointments to the Board of Regents are highly coveted, and Leavitt staffers said hundreds of people volunteered their names for consideration when the governor was making earlier appointments.
"I have an ongoing list of people who have shown an interest," said Leavitt. "There are lots of people anxious to make themselves available. That's good news in the sense that the state is well served, but it's hard to pick between good options sometimes."
Leavitt said he would consult Snow about when he officially will leave the board before making any decisions about a new appoint-ment.
Meanwhile, Leavitt said Snow will be missed.
"He's obviously a person I have great regard for," Leavitt said. "We've known each other since we were 13 years old when we went to a Boy Scout Jamboree together."
Leavitt, a former regent himself, said Snow has made great contributions to Utah's higher education system.
"He's always been viewed as an evenhanded person who puts the interests of the system ahead of any parochial or personal biases," Leavitt said.
Cecelia Foxley, commissioner of higher education, seconded Leavitt's opinion. Foxley praised Snow for dealing with challenges that confront the board "with great knowledge and expertise, but also with a very calm and gracious man-ner."
Snow plans to take a leave of absence from his St. George law firm for the next three years but will return to Utah when his church assignment is finished.
Although he enjoyed serving as a regent, Snow said he probably would not have continued on the board past 1995 when his second term ended.
"I think Gov. Leavitt has pretty much indicated that two terms on any appointment in the state is sufficient. Philosophically, I agree with that," Snow said.