What to make of Spanberger, Youngkin feud over UVA presidential search

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Governor Glenn Youngkin and Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger are sparring over the future of the University of Virginia (UVA), throwing a wrench into the transition process. 

Spanberger argues that UVA should wait to hire its next president, while Youngkin says Spanberger is trying to govern before being governor. 

Randolph-Macon Political Science Professor Rich Meagher said that he understands why Spanberger may have ruffled a few feathers when she sent a letter to the UVA Board of Visitors urging them to pause the presidential selection process until she is sworn in as governor in January. 

“It is a little unusual for a governor-elect so soon after the election to start asserting some sort of political interest in a particular area of policy making, a particular set of institutions in the state,” Meagher told 8News. 

Meagher said, as he outlines in a separate letter responding to Spanberger, Youngkin has a right to be upset. 

“This is interference with the last few months that he has, the last few weeks that he has to still be in charge of the state. I think there might be some sense that Spanberger might be undermining his authority as he’s on his way out,” Meagher said.

However, Meagher added he also understands why Spanberger decided to send the letter. Meagher said, given the role the Trump Administration played in the departure of former UVA President Jim Ryan, as Ryan outlined in a letter last week, Spanberger may have felt like she had to step in. 

“I think this might be a case where Spanberger feels like there some wrongs that she would like to right, and just letting the process play out is not gonna result in the best outcome for UVA,” Meagher told 8News. 

Meagher added that while the disagreement may complicate the transition, he expects cooler heads to prevail.