The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, all appointed by Jeb...they are protecting our Manatees...we think. See Manatees could lose 'endangered' status. Let's take a closer look at who the Commissioners are. This info is taken directly from their website (Except the campaign contributions). It appears that their only qualification is: They either like to fish and/or give to Republicans.
"Liking to fish" is usually not a good thing for Manatees. It is the powerboat industry that is clamoring to lift speed restrictions so people in powerboats can get to their fishing spots faster!
Chairman Rodney L. Barreto - Barreto is owner and president of Barreto Group, a real estate investment and development firm. He is also the founding partner of Floridian Partners, LLC – a strategy-management firm with offices in Miami and Tallahassee – that develops and manages effective corporate and public affairs strategies to achieve specific business results.
His biggest donation was $25,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2005.
Vice Chairman David K. Meehan - Currently, Meehan is president of Bankers Insurance Group. He is vice chairman of the holding company and its subsidiary boards and sits on the holding company’s board of directors. Meehan is also vice chairman and director of First Community Bank of America, Hillsborough County. Leisure activities for Meehan include golfing, hunting, fishing, power boating, sailing, scuba diving and family activities.
He gave $500 to Katherine Harris in 2005. (hit read more, see the rest especially the greenwashing guy from St. Joe Corp.)
Commissioner H.A. "Herky" Huffman - Huffman is a semi-retired real estate investor. Huffman has been an avid hunter and fisherman (in freshwater and saltwater) his entire life. During his adult years, he has seized opportunities to hunt and fish all over North and South America.
Commissioner Sandy T. Kaupe - Kaupe has spearheaded numerous conservation and environmental organizations. She serves on the board of directors of the Surdna Foundation of New York, which funds grants for environmental, artistic, effective citizenry and community service projects. Kaupe was raised in the Clearwater vicinity. She grew up hunting, fishing, sailing and developing an abiding love for Florida's treasure trove of natural wonders.
Contributed to the Republican National Committee and Katherine Harris.
Commissioner Richard A. Corbett - Corbett is on the board of directors and board of trustees for Tampa General Hospital. He also is on the board of directors for the Florida Council on Economic Education and the Hillsborough Education Foundation. Corbett is active in various community programs and organizations, including the Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Boy Scouts of America. Corbett advocates conserving and preserving Florida’s woodlands and its fish and wildlife resources for future generations to enjoy. He enjoys hunting, fishing, diving, skiing and golf.
Gave to Rick Santorum Campaign.
Commissioner Brian S. Yablonski - Yablonski works as the vice president of public affairs for the St. Joe Company. He also serves as an adjunct fellow with the Property and Environment Research Center, of Bozeman, Mont. The center is the nation’s oldest and largest institute working to use market principles to solve environmental problems. Yablonski is an avid outdoors enthusiast. The Tallahassee resident particularly enjoys backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking and fishing. (BTW: PERC is an unusual environmental organization: dedicated to improving environmental quality through property rights and markets. Good lord, greenwashing.)
Gave $500 to Lincoln Diaz-Balart.
Commissioner Kathy Barco - Barco is president of Barco-Duval Engineering, Inc., a heavy-construction company. The Jacksonville resident is no stranger to issues surrounding conservation and fish and wildlife management. She is active in many outdoor sporting activities and says she is excited about participating in the decision-making process.
Gave $10,000 to the Republican Party of Florida.
2 comments:
what no one cares about the manatees? no comments, not even natacha?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which you write about so clearly, approved downlisting manatees from endangered to threatened a while ago. FWC is now trying to complete a statewide "management plan" so that the downlisting may go into effect. The latest news reports of impending downlisting relate to the federal agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is recommending a similar change in status, even though their own population models suggest that the population is not stable over its range or over the long term. The Commissioners you wrote about are not directly associated with the federal action, but there is a similar underlying issue about what is really driving the policy. Both state and federal agency spokespersons insist that although status will change, protection will not. Right.
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