Gail Miller is now a Salt Lake Community College Board of Trustees member, and not because she has a famous husband.

"Gail Miller was not selected because she is Larry Miller's wife," said Amanda Covington, spokeswoman for Gov. Olene Walker. "She was selected on her own merits."

Larry Miller is owner of the Utah Jazz and a dominant local car dealer.

In her first meeting last week, Miller began filling the vacancy left by trustee Jake Harouny, who resigned due to other commitments.

Miller's name was recommended six weeks ago by trustees chairman Dave Thomas, first to Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell, who then forwarded the choice to Walker.

Miller had already taken part in a search committee to find a replacement for SLCC President H. Lynn Cundiff, who resigned in March 2003. The search stalled during the 2004 Legislature but is expected to resume in the spring.

"I got to know Gail in that process, and I thought she was extremely insightful," said Thomas. "She and Larry have shown a tremendous dedication and commitment to the college over the years."

That dedication has meant sinking millions into facilities for SLCC. The jewel is the Miller Business Innovation Center, 9750 S. 300 West, a 20-acre campus dubbed an "incubator" for small businesses.

But don't think Miller landed the post for financial reasons.

"From that standpoint, there would be a lot of people we could ask," Thomas said, referring to all the private donations made to SLCC. "I was going at it from the standpoint that Gail Miller would be a valuable member of our board."

And neither is there concern that the Miller name is too intertwined with SLCC.

"I don't think there would be any issues of conflict of interest," said Dave Buhler, Utah System of Higher Education associate commissioner of public affairs.

The Millers, Buhler added, don't stand to gain anything financially by Gail Miller being on the board, and if there is a conflict, she can simply recuse herself from any action. "I'm sure she'll make a great contribution to that board."

Harouny's four-year term would have ended June 30, 2005. Miller could be reappointed by the governor to the nine-member board for another term at that time.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com