Former Virginia Tech rector John Rocovich sued Gov. Abigail Spanberger this week, as well as the university and the Board of Visitors, over his removal, and he’s seeking immediate reinstatement to his seat, according to Cardinal News.
Spanberger removed Rocovich from the board late last month, accusing him of ethical violations. But to date, the Democratic governor has not specified her exact reasons for removing Rocovich, a major GOP donor who was appointed by her Republican predecessor, Glenn Youngkin.
She’s already appointed a replacement, and Rocovich did not attend the last board meeting.
But Rocovich promised to fight his removal, telling Spanberger in a letter last month that the move was “legally unsupported.” He argued that the governor-appointed board is “an independent governing authority, insulated from the day-to-day political pressures of any particular administration.” Now he alleges that Spanberger violated “the Commonwealth’s code and constitution” by removing him.
Libby Weit, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, defended the decision to remove Rocovich. She told Cardinal News that the governor is “the sole judge of sufficiency of the cause for removal.”
The legal battle between Spanberger and Rocovich is happening amid an effort by the governor to reshape Virginia boards after Youngkin appointed numerous conservative donors and activists. Rocovich was supposed to oversee a closely watched presidential search after Virginia Tech president Tim Sands announced in April that he plans to step down. In press statements, Rocovich indicated he wanted to accelerate that search and replace Sands by July. (Presidential searches often take up to a year.)
Rocovich has asked the courts for a judgment to declare his removal null and void and an injunction to block his ouster and to restore the “rightful possession of his seat” on the Board of Visitors.
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