Barnhart Exit Deal
Mitch Barnhart, who left the AD job at the end of June, will receive $3.2 million following the collapse of a previous deal that would have placed him in a university administration post paying $950,000 a year. Both agreements have now sparked outcry from critics, including Beshear.
In his Thursday press update, the governor said the $3.2 million is money that could go toward students, faculty, or research. Although the payment will come out of private funds raised by UK President Eli Capilouto, Beshear said his criticism still stands.
"I don't have anything against Mitch Barnhart... but this is a lot of money," Beshear said. "I know that there's this argument that... the president's going to raise it, it's not state funds. Well that's money the president isn't raising for the University of Kentucky, for students, and the rest."
UK did not have any immediate response to the governor's latest comments, but spokesman Jay Blanton has described the deal as one that reflects "Mitch’s long tenure as Athletics Director and is consistent with other step-down provisions at similar institutions.”
Law School Dean
Beshear also vented frustration with the University of Kentucky's choice to head its law school, charging that the university injected politics into the process.
The Democrat told reporters that he continues to see the selection of law school dean appointee Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove as problematic.
Van Tatenhove is a former staffer for Sen. Mitch McConnell who was nominated to the federal bench by Republican President George W. Bush.
Beshear characterized the one-sided political connections as troubling.
"This dean has a family member who is the inside counsel for (Kentucky) House Republicans. Maybe they want to claim all these things are coincidences. I'm not trying to politicize this. The University of Kentucky's administration is politicizing this law school," Beshear volunteered.
UK did not have any new comments regarding Beshear's remarks, but following the initial debate over the selection, Van Tatenhove told reporters he did not see the position as one involving partisan politics.
"Over 20 years ago, my job description has included the requirement that I stay out of partisan politics, and I've adhered to that carefully. I adhered to it during this search process and that important value does not end now. Frankly, it will be part of my deanship," Van Tatenhove said.
UK has said there is "strong national precedent" for judges serving as deans.