Regent:Perry ally pressured resignation

AUSTIN (AP) - Texas Tech regent Mark Griffin says he was pressured to resign his seat that Gov. Rick Perry appointed him to after he endorsed Perry's campaign rival, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, in the governor's race.

Griffin says Perry's former chief of staff, Brian Newby, called him shortly after a recent public appearance Griffin made with Hutchison. Griffin says he asked Newby if the governor wanted him to resign and Newby said yes. Griffin says Newby told him, "The governor's not going to ask you himself" but Griffin says he got the impression that his resignation was in the best interest of the university.

Griffin says Newby told him: "The governor expects loyalty out of his appointees."

Newby, Perry's campaign and the governor's office did not immediately respond to phone calls from The Associated Press seeking comment.