Meehan is top pick for UMass-Lowell post

BOSTON --U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan was selected Tuesday to be chancellor of his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, a school spokesman said.

UMass President Jack Wilson informed Meehan that he's the top pick, and the two sides began contract negotiations with the goal of striking a deal so that the Lowell Democrat's name can be presented for approval to the university's trustees at a meeting Wednesday, the spokesman said.

"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to make UMass-Lowell one of the best universities in the country," Meehan said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I'm looking forward to it."

The university hopes to have its next chancellor in place July 1. Meehan said he does not plan to leave Congress until July.

Wilson selected Meehan over two other finalists.

"President Wilson believes U.S. Rep. Meehan has the experience, vision, passion and intellect to be a truly outstanding chancellor for UMass-Lowell," UMass spokesman Robert Connolly said. "Brain power is the state's natural resource and we're convinced U.S. Rep. Meehan understands that acutely and will help the university harness it for economic benefit."

During his seven-plus terms in Congress, Meehan has carved a national profile for pushing campaign finance reform, fighting the tobacco industry and pushing to repeal the military's current policy on gay soldiers.

He was House co-sponsor of a 2002 campaign finance reform bill that limited unregulated "soft money" donations to political parties, working with Sens. John McCain and Russ Feingold.

Last month, Meehan introduced legislation to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy that allows gays to serve if they keep their sexual orientation private and don't engage in homosexual acts. Meehan introduced a similar bill in 2005 that eventually attracted 122 co-sponsors, but failed under in Republican-controlled Congress.

Word of Meehan's possible departure from Congress has already sparked an intense campaign to fill his highly coveted seat, one of 10 U.S. House seats in Massachusetts. All are held by Democrats; all are held by men.

The 5th Congressional District extends from Haverhill in the northeast across Middlesex County to Bolton and Berlin in the southwest. It was the first in Massachusetts to elect a female representative, Edith Nourse Rogers.

It is up to Gov. Deval Patrick to call a special election within 160 days of the vacancy.

Democrat Niki Tsongas, wife of the late former U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas, and former Lowell Mayor Eileen Donoghue have already said they plan to run if Meehan leaves Congress. State Reps. Barry Finegold of Andover and Jim Miceli of Wilmington have also said they plan to run, while Steve Kerrigan of Lancaster, most recently chief of staff to Attorney General Tom Reilly, has said he is considering a campaign.

On the Republican side, former state Rep. Donna Cuomo of North Andover and Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan also have discussed campaigns.

UMass-Lowell is replacing William Hogan, who announced last May that he would retire. The other finalists were David C. Chang, chancellor of Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Nabil A. Ibrahim, vice chancellor of academic affairs at Purdue University-Calumet.

"(Wilson) does believe he has three very strong finalists presented to him, but based on their interviews and performance during campus visits it became increasingly clear that U.S. Rep. Meehan was the person that could best lead the campus to new heights of achievement," Connolly said.

Meehan, 50, has a masters in public policy and a law degree from Suffolk University and sits on that school's Board of Trustees, but UMass faced some criticism for considering a political figure over a proven academic.

"I think that is a totally unfounded criticism," Connolly said. "We go out and look for the very best person available. If you look at the congressman's skills, they are in sync with the university's needs. He is a proven fundraiser, he can work with all kinds of constituencies, he can communicate with the press. But to President Wilson he meets the fundamental need, which is the ability to translate the university's research into economic activity."

Meehan, who was in Washington on Tuesday, said he hopes to finish pending congressional projects before he leaves Congress. His Armed Services subcommittee is working on a report about Iraqi security forces. Meehan is also involved in crafting legislation on ethics and lobbying reform that he hopes to complete.

Meehan also said he expected to use his political and fundraising skills in the academic world.

"It is more important than ever for schools to raise money privately, from foundations, foundation grants, and to continue to expand research and development," Meehan said. "What the university needs is leadership."

Hogan, the now-retired UMass chancellor, said in a statement: "Given the significant decline in state funding for the university and growing diversity in the region in the past quarter-century, I believe U.S. Rep. Meehan is a most impressive candidate for chancellor because of his record as the most prolific fundraiser in the U.S. House of Representatives and his commitment to diversity in staff hiring."

Meehan's 2006 year-end fundraising report showed a $5.1 million balance, the largest of any House member nationwide.

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Associated Press writer Andrew Miga contributed to this report from Washington.