In a Sept. 9 letter obtained by The Mercury, George Mason University Rector Charles Stimson informed Democratic leaders in the Virginia Senate that he will not step down from his post on the school’s governing board despite their request for him to do so. Washington’s attorney pushed back against the claims, and the governing board stated that they wished to negotiate a resolution with the agency. Glenn Youngkin to GMU’s 16-member governing board. The governor is the only person with the authority to remove an appointment from a governing board, but the legislature has the power to confirm or reject the governor’s board appointees. The board has committee meetings scheduled for Wednesday, and the next board meeting is on Sept. 25.