Gov. Spanberger removes Virginia Tech board chair; Rocovich calls move 'politically motivated'

Gov. Spanberger removed Virginia Tech Board of Visitors chair John Rocovich for ethics violations and appointed Edward Baine to finish the term.

Gov. Spanberger removes Virginia Tech board chair; Rocovich calls move 'politically motivated'. Gov. Abigail Spanberger removed John Rocovich as chair of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors this week citing violations of the code of conduct for Commonwealth appointees to boards, authorities, and commissions, as well as the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors' Code of Ethics. Rocovich is pushing back, saying he will not step down. "I will be direct: I found that call and the subsequent letter deeply offensive, legally unsupported, and wholly inconsistent with the Governor's own publicly-stated principles regarding the proper relationship between the executive branch and the governance of Virginia's public universities," Rocovich said. In a letter to Gov. Spanberger, Virginia Tech Board of Visitors rector John Rocovich said, "I will not resign....