HispanicBusiness

Helen Dragas, the embattled rector reappointed by Gov. Bob McDonnell to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, is one step away from General Assembly confirmation.

The Virginia Beach real estate developer won an 18-2 vote of confidence Friday (SJ324) from the House Privileges and Elections Committee. An affirmative vote by the full House is all that's needed for her to keep her post.

Dragas stirred the ire of faculty, students and alumni last year for her role in the aborted ouster of Teresa Sullivan, the university's first female president.

Del. Steven Landes, R-Augusta County, told the panel Dragas showed "poor leadership and poor judgment" in engineering Sullivan's forced resignation without any public discussion or vote by the full board. The popular president was reinstated two weeks later.

Del. Israel O'Quinn, R-Bristol, countered that the legislature shouldn't "meddle in the personnel decisions of a state college or university."

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