Governor Crist Announces Three South Florida Water Management District Appointees

The Office of Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced two appointments and one reappointment to the South Florida Water Management District today, February 24, 2010.  A press release with additional information on the appointees is reprinted below.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass.

 

Governor Crist Appoints Three to the South Florida Water Management District

~ To oversee water resources in 16 counties, from Orlando to the Florida Keys ~

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today appointed two new members and reappointed one member to the South Florida Water Management District. The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that oversees the water resources in the southern half of Florida, covering 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys and serving a population of 7.5 million residents.

“These distinguished Floridians are passionate about serving the needs of their community and understand the importance of good stewardship of our environment,” said Governor Crist. “I am confident they will benefit the people of South Florida by serving with integrity and wisdom.”

The three appointees to the South Florida Water Management District include:

• Shannon Estenoz, 42, of Plantation, is reappointed to the South Florida Water Management District. She has been a research assistant at Florida Atlantic University since 2009. Previously, she was a senior policy advisor for the National Parks Conservation Association from 2007 to 2009 and a regional director from 2006 to 2007. Estenoz also serves on the Water Resources Advisory Commission and the South Florida Ecosystem Task Force. She received her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. Estenoz will serve a term beginning March 2, 2010, and ending March 1, 2014.

 

• Anne “Sandy” Batchelor-Robjohns, 56, of Miami Beach is the chairman and co-CEO of The Batchelor Foundation Inc. She has been a board member of Audubon of Florida, Community Partnership for Homeless, Museum of Science, Jackson Memorial Foundation and the Community Television Foundation of South Florida. Batchelor-Robjohns received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, her master’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from the St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami. She succeeds Gladys Perez for a term ending March 1, 2012.

 

• Glenn Waldman, 49, of Weston, founded Waldman, Trigoboff, Marx & Calnan in 1991. As an arbiter and commercial litigation attorney, his practice involves legal matters associated with environmental, construction and land use disputes. Waldman received his bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Florida. He succeeds Michael Collins for a term beginning March 2, 2010, ending March 1, 2014.

 

About the South Florida Water Management District

The South Florida Water Management District is the oldest and largest of the state’s five water management districts. Created in 1949, the agency is responsible for managing and protecting water resources of South Florida by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems and water supply.

About Everglades Restoration

To date, Florida has invested more than $2.4 billion in the 30-year, $10.9 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the 50/50 state and federal partnership to restore and protect the Everglades.  During the two tightest budget years in Florida history, $50 million has been dedicated for Everglades restoration in both 2008 and 2009 to continue the state’s partnership with the federal government.  The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District recently agreed to invest approximately $530 million for 72,500 acres of property south of Lake Okeechobee. The district will have an option to purchase another 107,500 acres for restoration within 10 years after closing.

In 2007, Governor Crist worked to expand the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act to safeguard the entire northern Everglades system, including the Lake Okeechobee watershed as well as the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and estuaries. He has worked to protect and improve the quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water north of Lake Okeechobee. Additionally, the continuation of the Florida Forever program is a key component to securing the future of the Everglades.

 

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