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[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Gazette.]

  Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, said he has been appalled by the regents’ handling of the search for a new University of Iowa president and believes considerable taxpayer money has been wasted in that search process.

  ‘‘I believe it is an abuse of taxpayer money,’’ said Zaun, pointing to more than $200,000 that has been expended in the failed effort.

  ‘‘How can we trust the Board of Regents for the money we allocate?’’ he asked during a speech on the Senate floor. ‘‘Who’s overseeing the Board of Regents?’’

  Zaun, who opposed the Senate confirmations of several current regents, said he believes the new governor should clean house and appoint an entire new board to take over the UI search process and set a new direction for regent oversight.

  Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, took issue with Zaun’s assessment, saying the regents did a very good job in finding a new president for the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and that the current second-guessing is counterproductive.

  ‘‘I think this lynch mob mentality has gone a little bit too far,’’ Dotzler said.

  Culver spokesman Brad Anderson said Culver is considering four regent appointments — three current members whose terms are set to expire next spring and the recent resignation of Spirit Lake businessman Tom Bedell.

  Anderson said that is more appointments than any governor has considered at one time as it is and poses a ‘‘daunting task’’ that likely will bring a fresh perspective to the nine-member panel.