3 UC Regents Will Not Be Reappointed

The terms of four incumbents on the University of California Board of Regents expired last week, but three of them will not be reappointed, according to an aide to Gov. George Deukmejian.

Only Frank W. Clark Jr., the board chairman, has been renamed to the 28-member panel that governs UC’s nine campuses. Edward Carter, Frank L. Hope Jr. and William A. Wilson have been informed that none of them will be given new terms.

“This was a very difficult decision,” said Terrance Flanigan, the governor’s chief deputy for appointments. “The governor thanked them all for their service. But he feels it is time to allow others a chance to serve on the board.” Asked whether the governor was displeased by any UC votes cast by Carter, Hope or Wilson, Flanigan said: “Certainly not.”

2 Terms to Fill

Although the terms of the four incumbents expired March 1, Deukmejian has only two 12-year terms to fill because of a reduction in the size of the board mandated by the state Constitution. In addition, he can name someone to serve the six years remaining in the term of Regent Sheldon Andelson who died in December. Nominees must be confirmed by the state Senate.

Clark, originally appointed by Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 1980 to finish an unexpired term, was given a 12-year term by Deukmejian last week.

Flanigan said the governor has not made a final choice on appointments to the two other available seats. Tom Beerman, Deukmejian’s assistant press secretary, said he expected the appointments to be announced in the next few weeks.

UC officials said Deukmejian is under pressure to name a San Diegan to replace Hope, a prominent San Diego architect, and is also being lobbied to name someone to represent the Riverside area.

Because of a 1974 amendment to the state Constitution, the size of the board was cut this month from 30 to 28 and that will be followed by another cut in 1990 to 26 members. The cuts come from among the regents who are appointed to staggered terms by governors. Seven other ex-officio members are top officials of state government and of the alumni organization; the eighth is a student representative appointed by the other regents. The amendment also cut the length of new terms from 16 to 12 years.

Clark, who is a senior partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Parker, Milliken, Clark, O’Hara & Samuelian, said he was pleased to accept the reappointment but had “no clue” as to why none of the other incumbents was chosen. Carter, Hope and Wilson could not be reached for comment.

UC Officials Surprised

Some UC officials expressed surprise that only Clark was reappointed, especially since Hope was originally appointed by Deukmejian to an unexpired term in 1984. Officials and other trustees said they could think of no instance in which Hope or the other two voted against the governor’s wishes on a UC matter.