Senate confirmations committee advances multiple university and regulatory nominees; one senator objects over board diversity

The Alabama Senate Confirmations Committee met May 12 and approved a series of gubernatorial appointees to university boards and state regulatory commissions, with most nominees advancing by unanimous recorded votes.

Representative Rex Reynolds and William Dunovan were presented as nominees to the Athens State University Board of Trustees. Representative Rex Reynolds told the committee he is a state House member and Athens State alumnus and described his law-enforcement career and support for working-student programs. William Dunovan said he graduated from Athens State in 1971 and has served on the board for six-and-a-half years. The committee agreed to hear both nominees together and, after discussion, the clerk reported a roll-call vote of 12 yays and 2 nays; the chair declared both nominees approved. Senator Smitherman told the committee he would vote no and said he was troubled that the appointment…