Gov. Hobbs faces an even tougher choice at UA now
As shakeups go, this wasn’t much of one.
The three-member band that was directing financial crisis management at the University of Arizona shuffled the instruments a bit, but essentially kept the band together.
For the moment.
It’s not clear how much the governor was involved in the changes announced on late Thursday by the Arizona Board of Regents. She has been on a trade mission to Mexico this week, but no doubt the phone lines were hot between Phoenix and Mexico City.
Thursday’s announcement came only days after the governor released a scathing statement that was an unmistakable vote of no-confidence in the three-man budget rescue team — UA President Robert Robbins, Regents Chair Fred DuVal and Regents Executive Director John Arnold.
The regents announced DuVal would be stepping down as board chair and Arnold would be taking a leave of absence.
However, their work in Tucson continues apace to save university finances from years of budget mismanagement.
Though DuVal turns the chairman’s hat over to fellow regent Cecilia Mata, he’ll remain on the board and continue to work to shore up UA’s financial wellbeing.
Arnold, while taking temporary leave as board’s executive director, will continue in his other role as interim chief financial officer at UA.
“It’s imperative that we move away from the heat of rhetoric and politics and refocus on addressing the genuine challenges facing our institution,” DuVal said in the regents’ statement.
“By resigning as board chair, I want to do my part to create space for collaborative efforts toward real solutions . ... Personally, this transition allows me to dedicate more time to serving the University of Arizona during my remaining two years on the board.”
Hobbs’ statement on Monday was especially scalding in its critique of DuVal, upbraiding him for his thinly veiled threat to sue UA Faculty Chair Leila Hudson if she continued casting aspersions at him for his work with a private investment firm.
“This behavior is appalling and unacceptable,” the governor wrote. “Chair DuVal and members of the Board of Regents appear more concerned with saving face than fixing the problems they created. It’s time for them to come down from their ivory tower and realize this is hurting Arizonans and the university.”
Looking at the smoldering crater the governor’s statement left, the troika appear to have acted preemptively before a scheduled meeting with Hobbs next Wednesday.
Their steps signal they hear Hobbs and her criticism and respect her authority.
But is this what the governor expects?
This is an unusual situation for her, because the men under fire are all stalwarts of our community. They are among the most accomplished men in Ar
izona and have enjoyed reputations of high integrity over years working in public and private spheres.
They all have connections to the University of Arizona and an abiding loyalty to the school.
I argued earlier this week that the governor’s words on Monday were no mere statement. They were a marker laid down — a powerful rebuke of the people trying to restore order with UA finances after serious mistakes blew a $177 million hole in the budget.
If we are to believe her tone, her severity, Hobbs is going to have to act on those words and put in place leadership she is confident can solve UA’s problems.
As she prepares to meet on Wednesday with the current people leading this effort, the governor has a tough decision to make.
Can she, and more importantly, does she replace them?
Can she find better talent than she has already — talent with skin in the game and legacies in the balance?
Because as much as Katie Hobbs may have used her Monday statement to distance herself from the debacle in Tucson, in the end she’ll own it.
The buck stops on the Ninth Floor.