UM candidate rejects offer

Two sources have told The Kansas City Star that Terry Sutter, a New Jersey plastics company executive, has turned down an offer to become the president of the University of Missouri System. The Star is also reporting that Republican U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof is no longer in the running to replace Elson Floyd, who left in April to lead Washington State University.

“The board is back to square one,” one university source told the Star.

The announcement of a new president was expected today at the end of the curators’ regular two-day monthly meeting. But Scott Charton, the university spokesman, told the Star on Thursday afternoon that there now was no plan for an announcement today.

A closed meeting that was on the schedule for this afternoon will proceed as planned, he said.