August 10, 2007
By Joel Moroney
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070810/NEWS0105/708100355/1007
VOTED AGAINST BACKPUMPING
Eric Buermann, chairman, Miami-Dade County
Term: Appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist in April
Occupation: Attorney — transitional team leader for Crist's Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Quotable: "We are halfway through the backpumping window to provide water — you are losing your window. If it's any comfort to any of us, I think it may be moot."
Charles J. Dauray, Lee, Collier, Hendry and Charlotte counties
Term: Appointed by Crist in April
Occupation: President and chairman College of Life Foundation
Quotable: "You can't be alive and dead at the same time. There is no balance here today. It is black and white, yea or nay."
Shannon A. Estenoz, Broward County
Term: Appointed by Crist in April
Occupation: Works with the National Parks Conservation Association — previous work on behalf of the Everglades
Quotable: "If there was ever a body of water that needed us to be strong and be creative, it's Lake Okeechobee."
Melissa L. Meeker, East Coast at-large
Term: Appointed by Crist in June
Occupation: President of Hesperides Group, an environmental consulting firm
Quotable: "There are things that can be done that haven't been done yet and we need to make a commitment to those things before we are here again in five years."
VOTED YES
Nicolas J. Gutierrez Jr., Miami-Dade County
Term: Appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush in March 1999
Occupation: Attorney
Quotable: "Sometimes not taking an action which is going to put pollution into a water body is going to have a possibly worse reaction and that is what is happening here."
Patrick J. Rooney Jr., Palm Beach County
Term: Appointed by Crist in June
Occupation: President, Palm Beach Kennel Club
Quotable: "I want to find a way to help these guys (agriculture) but I am really concerned about finding another way. It has caused me a lot of consternation environmentally."
Harkley Thornton, Central Florida including counties around the lake
Term: Appointed by Gov. Bush in 1999
Occupation: Owner and president of Outlook Media, Inc.
Quotable: "Today we protect the environment and we hurt agriculture — we can't make everybody happy."
ABSTAINED
Malcolm S. Wade, who represents Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades, Osceola and Okeechobee counties.
ABSENT
Michael Collins, who represents St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.