RICHMOND, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – On a party line 8-to-4 vote, the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee has rejected nominations of eight people to Virginia university Boards of Visitors, including former State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to UVA’s board.

Northern Virginia Democrat Addam Ebbin noted they’ve approved thousands of Governor Youngkin nominees to boards and commissions all over the state, including university boards, who’ve carried out their functions well. However, he said these appointees to boards at UVA, George Mason, and VMI.

“Most of our boards of visitors have been collaborative with good results and visitors achieving significant harmony, civility, consensus regardless of their own personal beliefs. However, I believe the individuals named on SJR 6001 are not good choices for George Mason University, the Virginia Military Institute, or the board at the University of Virginia,” Ebbin said.

“I believe one of his appointments to UVA that we had voted on a vote of 21-to-19 to confirm previously, the Governor then asked that person to step down and they did, and now he’s replacing him with another individual I don’t believe will foster harmony at that university,” Ebbin said about the Cuccinelli pick.

Virginia Beach Republican Bill DeSteph argued all are imminently qualified for their positions and just the people our university students need in leading them from the universities into the workforce. Click here for the entire meeting.