By Jennifer M. Fitzenberger
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 14, 1998

Two new Regents appointed

Arizona Daily Wildcat Jack Jewett

YUMA - Arizona Board of Regents appointees Jack Jewett and Chris Herstam said Friday they will leave their wish lists at home when they join the Arizona university system's governing body this year.

"I do not come to this job with a set agenda that I'm going to check off like a laundry list," said Jewett, corporate director of public policy for Tucson Medical Center. "I come to this public service position with a public service mentality."

Republican Gov. Jane Hull chose Jewett, 50, and his former legislative ally Chris Herstam, 48, a lobbyist for the Phoenix law firm Lewis and Rocca, last month to replace Tucson lawyer Art Chapa and Phoenix grocery store owner Eddie Basha, whose terms expired this year.

When Jewett and Herstam come aboard, the regents will all be White Republicans. Chapa and Basha are Democrats and Chapa is Hispanic.

The new appointments will become official when the state Senate approves Hull's selection. The Senate could make its decision any time before the third week in April.

The regents, who oversee Arizona's three state universities and an annual budget of about $2.5 billion, serve eight-year terms and are given a maximum of $500 each year to cover travel expenses.

Arizona Daily Wildcat Chris Herstam

Both Jewett and Herstam built strong working relationships with Hull when they served as majority whips while she was speaker of the House.

"Our working relationship with the governor was probably closer than one would normally associate with being legislators," Jewett said.

"The governor's office told us they were looking for individuals with extensive public policy experience, and obviously she (Hull) knew us well," Herstam added.

Jewett, a 1969 University of Arizona sociology graduate, said he expects increasing enrollment and resource battles to cross the board's agenda in the future.

"In the next 15 years, the number of high school graduates in Arizona will double, so certainly, enrollment issues will challenge the state's system," he said.

Herstam, who received bachelor's and master's degrees in secondary education from Arizona State University in 1971 and 1972, agreed that student enrollment will present a challenge to the regents. He said 80 percent of Arizona high school graduates attend college in state.

"The numbers alone are very challenging for the Board of Regents," Herstam said.

The enrollment problem is unique, he said, because Arizona lacks a private college system.

Herstam said he expects both Arizona State University's east and west campuses to absorb the expected student population surge.

"Technology is another way of serving citizens and students throughout the state, particularly in the rural areas," he said. "I think that's another area that will help solve the enrollment problem in the future."

The UA will be an important provider of future resources for Tucson, Jewett said.

"For decades, my interests have revolved around juvenile court, water issues and the United Way, and in all of those areas the university can play a more prominent role," he said. "The University of Arizona is so prominently placed, it's such a vital role in the development of the community."

Jewett, who spent 10 years in the Legislature, said he has always been intrigued with the universities because they "demand a healthy chunk of the state budget" each year.

Community service activities, he said, are the experiences that will most prepare him for becoming a regent.

"My whole career has been directed toward public service," said Jewett, who has been involved with a business development group called the Tucson 30 and Junior Achievement. "To me the board is near the ultimate in public service."

Herstam, who was former Gov. Fife Symington's first chief of staff, said he is also community-service oriented. He has worked with the United Way and the Donor Network of Arizona.

During his eight years in the Legislature, Herstam said, he worked with the current regents and in community activities.

"The individuals (regents) seem to believe in consensus building, and that was my style in the Legislature and on other community boards," he said.

Jaime Molera, Hull's education policy adviser, told the board Jewett and Herstam were selected for their commitment to addressing higher education needs and state-wide focus.

"These individuals will have strong support in the Senate," he said.

Regent President-elect Judy Gignac said she could not be more pleased by the governor's selection.

"They will handle themselves with integrity and courtesy," she said.

UA President Peter Likins agreed.

"It's important to stay in close contact with the governor," he said. "I'm very optimistic."