By Ben Giles | Arizona Capitol Times
Regents and lawmakers alike expect the June 18 resignation of the Arizona Board of Regents’ chairman can heal any lingering wounds between them, though Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, who is at the center of the controversy, said the resignation changes nothing.
Greg Patterson, who secretly recorded a February meeting in which he mocked Finchem, said in his resignation letter he stepped down so he wouldn’t be a distraction to the regents and universities in their ongoing work. His resignation was effective immediately and came two days after a news report chronicled disparaging remarks Patterson made to Finchem at the meeting.
House Speaker Pro Tem T.J. Shope said any bad blood between the regents and Finchem, or any lawmakers offended by Patterson’s behavior, should be left in the past now that Patterson is off the board.
