Virginia Secretary of Education

01/24/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/24/2025 17:39

Governor Glenn Youngkin on the Senate's Rejection of a Number of Qualified University and State Board Members

For Immediate Release:January 24, 2025
Contacts: Office of the Governor: Christian Martinez, [email protected]Office of the Governor: Christian Martinez, [email protected]

Governor Glenn Youngkin on the Senate's Rejection of a Number of Qualified University and State Board Members

RICHMOND, VA - Governor Glenn Youngkin today released the following statement after Senate Democrats rejected numerous qualified university and state board members:

"For three years, my administration has stood for excellence by appointing outstanding leaders to Virginia's university and state boards. And yet today, Senate Democrats rejected highly-qualified, nationally-recognized individuals who have already been serving with distinction on a volunteer basis. What reasons did they offer for their actions other than their own extreme partisanship? None. Repeatedly, they could not articulate a single substantive reason to reject them.

"Stunningly, Senate Democrats rejected a George Mason University board member who is one of the nation's leading legal experts in combatting antisemitism. His leadership at the University is invaluable at a time when there is an ongoing investigation into activities that warranted actions to protect Jewish students on campus and a student has been arrested for plotting a terrorist attack on the Israeli consulate in New York.

"Other rejected board nominees include recognized leaders at the top of their fields in law, psychology, finance, law enforcement and education with significant personal and professional distinction, including service in both Republican and Democrat administrations.

"Senate Democrats have rejected excellence. This isn't just simply petty politics; their actions hurt Virginia and institutions like George Mason University and Virginia Military Institute.

"Virginians are looking to the House to right this wrong."

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