SALEM - The Senate easily approved the appointment of former Gov. Neil Goldschmidt to the state Board of Higher Education, which he's expected to head, over scattered opposition Thursday.

Senators also confirmed Gov. Ted Kulongoski's appointment of six other new members to the 11-member board that oversees the state University System.

The tally was 25-4 to approve the appointment of Goldschmidt, whom Kulongoski wants to be president of the board. The panel chooses its president.

The Democratic governor says he reshaped the board in hopes it will step up its efforts to get the campuses more money from the Legislature and to make the system more affordable for young people.

One Goldschmidt critic apparently changed his mind overnight.

Sen. Roger Beyer, R-Molalla, chairman of the Senate Rules and Executive Appointments Committee, voted against the Democratic ex-governor's appointment after the panel questioned Goldschmidt for two hours Wednesday night.

Beyer said Thursday he had decided to give Goldschmidt "every opportunity to succeed" despite some misgivings about his manner of operating.

Beyer had criticized Goldschmidt for meeting with other board appointees in a private session Wednesday and for saying he planned to hire former Sen. Neil Bryant of Bend as a consultant to study the university system's administrative operations.

Goldschmidt said no decisions were made and that the group received informational briefings.

Three of 14 GOP senators opposed the appointment. Goldschmidt's most vocal detractor was the lone Democrat to vote against him, Sen. Vicki Walker, of Eugene.

She has criticized his Portland consulting firm's receiving $1 million in fees since 1998 from SAIF Corp., the state-owned workers' compensation insurer, without extensive written contracts to show what work was done.

Walker has filed a complaint with the state Government Standards and Practices Commission accusing SAIF of not reporting all its legislative lobbying expenses as required by law.

Goldschmidt said his firm provided political and other advice to SAIF but did little or no lobbying at the Legislature.

Senators of both parties heaped praise on Goldschmidt, a Democrat, who served one term as governor from 1987-91 and also is a former Portland mayor and U.S. secretary of transportation in the Carter administration.

Republican Sen. Ben Westlund, of Bend, called Goldschmidt "the perfect nominee for this job."

Sen. Frank Morse, R-Albany, said the state is failing higher education by funding universities at 1991 levels.

"We need the experience, charisma and knowledge" of Goldschmidt on the part-time board, Morse said.

Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Jacksonville, voted against Goldschmidt and said the new board "seems like it's already a well-oiled club.

"It feels like old-time politics," he said.

Appointments of the six other new members were approved with little discussion.

In another vote, the Senate unanimously endorsed Kulongoski's appointment of the Legislature's most senior member, Republican Sen. Lenn Hannon, to the state Parole Board.

That full-time post requires Hannon to give up the Senate seat he has held since 1975.

Senators also confirmed the governor's appointment of Republican state Rep. Max Williams of Tigard as director of the state Corrections Department.