REGENTS REAPPOINTED

Gov. Mel Carnahan has reappointed Donald Harrison of Cape Girardeau and Doyle Privett of Kennett to six-year terms on Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents.

But the reappointments Thursday still leave a year-old vacancy on the board created when Lynn Dempster of Sikeston resigned last February after suffering a stroke.

The reappointments are the first such reappointments in 20 years.

Southeast President Dr. Dale Nitzschke praised the reappointments, saying: "They have a proven track record."

But he said he hopes Carnahan will fill the remaining vacancy soon.

The regents are operating with only five voting members, only one more than the number needed for a quorum to conduct business.

If two regents are absent, business can't be conducted, Nitzschke said.

He said Carnahan has been working to fill the position in recent months.

"It is quite frankly a very difficult job," Nitzschke said.

Dempster's seat was a Democratic one, which Carnahan must fill with another Democrat.

Both Harrison and Privett are Republicans. Their reappointments are subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.

Chris Sifford, the governor's director of communications, said filling the vacancy remains a priority of the governor.

But he said he doesn't know when the vacancy will be filled.

Harrison, who has served on the Southeast board since 1989, stepped down as board president in October. He is a retired businessman. Privett is a certified public accountant and a Southeast graduate.