There was “an incredible amount of intimidation,” said one search committee member, “from the speaker and his emissaries, including members of the current Board of Governors, to pressure the committee to name Clayton Somers as the chancellor.” Two sources with direct knowledge of internal conversations within the chancellor’s cabinet said that multiple members, including Provost Bob Blouin and Vice Chancellor of Development David Routh, made clear they were concerned about Somers’s attendance at certain strategy meetings. In addition to Speaker Moore, Somers is close to several members of the Board of Governors, as well as top members of UNC-CH’s Board of Trustees including Chair David Boliek and Vice Chair John Preyer.