Jeff Landry weighs in on Louisiana Tech, Southern president searches
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he won't intervene in the initial search process for a new Louisiana Tech University president and didn't do so for the new Southern University System president, but he could weigh on a final decision. Landry has elevated the governor's power to control Louisiana's higher education boards through a recent law that allows him not only to appoint members to those boards, but also to select the chairs of those boards. He also was active this year in LSU's recruitment of Lane Kiffin to lead the LSU football team and the firing of previous LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward. But Landry said he wants the initial vetting of candidates to come from the boards, search committees and stakeholders. Louisiana Tech leadership friction: Louisiana Tech president, board spar over spiked faculty raises | Exclusive In an interview with USA Today Network, Landry said, "I don't want to force feed any person. I want to hear from the stakeholders." Landry said he spoke to northern Louisiana legislators specifically about the Tech job while the governor was in Ruston Oct 12. "I told the delegation to find the best person to handle the job," Landry said. But the governor
