Nixon reappoints Cape Girardeau lawyer to university board

Gov. Jay Nixon has again appointed Cape Girardeau lawyer J. Michael Ponder to the University of Missouri Board of Curators, according to a news release from Nixon.

Ponder served on the board earlier this year for about a month before Nixon withdrew the appointment in February. Ponder was named to the board Jan. 4, while the Senate was not in session, and began serving immediately, The Associated Press reported. But Ponder didn't get confirmation after some senators raised questions about policy decisions while Ponder was on the State Board of Education. Ponder is a 1990 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, and is a partner at Cook, Barkett, Ponder and Wolz in Cape Girardeau. His term will end Jan. 1, 2019.