CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Democratic state senators, including President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas and Charlottesville Senator Creigh Deeds, have filed suit in Fairfax Circuit Court to keep Ken Cuccinelli of UVA’s Board of Visitors, as well as other Governor Youngkin appointees of boards at George Mason University and VMI. The Democrat-controlled Senate Privileges and Elections Committee in a quick Richmond meeting June 9 failed on a 4-to-8 vote to move confirmation of the Youngkin appointees to the full Senate. The majority Democrats assert that kills the Governor’s nominations, but Governor Youngkin and state Attorney General Jason Miyares contend the visitors can continue to serve because the appointees need to be considered by the full General Assembly.

The suit filed June 24 in Fairfax County, which names former UVA Board of Visitors Rector Robert Hardie as a defendant along with the rectors of the other boards, states that a little over week after Governor Youngkin submitted the appointees to the legislature May 30, “The General Assembly promptly refused to confirm those appointments, which failed even to pass a threshold committee vote.”

“That should have been the end of the matter.”

The suit continues, “Rather than respect this clear separation of powers principle enshrined in the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, Governor Youngkin and Executive Department have chosen nullification, advising the Rectors of UVA’s and GMU’s Boards of Visitors and the President of VMI’s Board of Visitors that the rejected members may still serve…”

Senate BOV Lawsuit