Better Government Assoc. spokesman defends Willam Griffin's presidency bid

Despite overwhelming objections from College of Lake County's staff, experts say William Griffin was well within his rights to seek a position as the school's president.

The college announced last week the board chairman was the CLC's sole candidate for the top administrative post.

Since then, strong opposition has been building among faculty members who charged the move could be a conflict of interest.

In the face of that opposition, Griffin took himself out of the running during a public forum Thursday. He said he didn't want to create further turmoil for the college.

However, Jay Stewart, executive director of Better Government Association, said from a continuity standpoint, it makes sense for a board member to take over as president.

"I don't know how common it is, but the college is free to hire whomever they wish to be their chief executive," Stewart said.

Jim Bray, a spokesman for the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said as long as Griffin didn't participate in the vote, there was no conflict of interest.

"It happens all over in government," Bray said. "You conduct an expensive search, hire someone that doesn't work out and low and behold the person in the number two position was the best person to begin with."

The position has been vacant since June 12 when embattled president Richard Fonte resigned.

Fonte was hired in Jan. 2006 after two nation-wide searches that cost the college $136,660.

Vice Chairman Richard A. Anderson said last week that one reason board members looked to Griffin to fill the slot was because they were highly criticized for spending too much money in the search for Fonte.