AP reports meetings between Forsee, Hulshof

Posted to On Campus by Zach Toombs at 2:22 a.m., Nov. 20, 2009

In 2007, the UM system Board of Curators narrowed their search for a new university president down to three finalists, two of which were former congressman Kenny Hulshof and current UM system President Gary Forsee. When the curators’ top choice passed on the offer, Forsee claimed the position over Hulshof.

But Hulshof isn’t letting that keep him away from involvement with the university, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. According to the AP, Hulshof, the Republican candidate for governor in 2008, has met with Forsee at least three times in recent months at Forsee's office.

Both Hulshof and Forsee refused to discuss the meetings with the AP.

"I meet with lots of people on lots of different topics," Forsee told the AP.

Plant sciences professor Gary Stacey attended one of the meetings with Hulshof. According to the AP, Stacey said Hulshof was interested in creating a statewide "competitiveness council" to focus on economic development and possibly luring federal stimulus money to the Kansas City region.