Regent Atwell will remain on board indefinitely on the advice of Vos

UW Regent Robert Atwell, a GOP appointee, will remain on the board for the foreseeable future after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos informed him he may serve until his appointment and confirmation, according to an email obtained by WisPolitics. successors.

Atwell’s move would prevent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers from naming a successor until he is confirmed by the GOP-majority Senate. The timeline for that is unclear, however, as Senate Republicans previously declined to accept Evers’ nomination over the nomination of former GOP Gov. Scott Walker, who had decided they wanted to stay in their jobs.

Atwell, one of Walker’s two remaining board appointees, announced her decision in an email Monday to Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman, Regents President Karen Walsh and Board of Regents Executive Director and Corporate Secretary Megan Wasley.

“Speaker Vos pointed out to me that the statute provides that, absent resignation, regents remain in office until their successor is appointed and confirmed,” Atwell wrote. “Jay recently confirmed this understanding. Therefore, I will remain on the Management Board until I resign or until my successor takes up the position. I hope that my temporary continuation as regent will foster good communication between the Legislative Council and the BOR. As always, please feel free to contact me anytime.”

There is no other mention of the Assembly speaker in the email.

Since Evers took office in 2019, the GOP-controlled state Senate has rejected 22 executive branch nominations. That includes the nominations of Regent Dana Wachs, a former Democratic lawmaker, and John Miller, a businessman and Democratic donor. Republicans rejected it in March after opposing an agreement between UW leaders and Vos on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Over the last 40 years, the Senate has rejected four executive branch nominations.

The Senate also held off on taking any action on Evers’ nomination to replace dentist Frederick Prehn of Wausau on the Natural Resources Board after Walker’s appointee refused to step down at the end of his term in May 2021. That blocked the election. Evers winning a majority on the board’s Natural Resources Board, and Prehn did not resign until late December 2022, after the Democratic governor won another four-year term.

Atwell, founder and CEO of Nicolet National Bank, was appointed by Walker in 2017. He did not immediately return a call Thursday seeking details of his plans. WisPolitics also asked UW for any communication from Atwell regarding his plans.

Evers’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the appointment of Atwell’s replacement.

Cris Peterson, Walker’s other remaining appointee, was appointed to a term ending May 1, 2025.