Jim RosicaThe Florida Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Jon Steverson to be the state’s Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.
The full Senate confirmed Steverson by 29-8 after a handful of Democratic senators raised concerns.
Steverson has raised hackles for suggesting that the state allow timber harvesting and cattle grazing to help state parks boost their income. The Florida Park System has been operating under a $20 million deficit, according to reports.
The Senate declined to confirm him last year. If he had been rejected again, Steverson would have been the first agency head in more than two decades to be ousted for failing to win Senate confirmation.
Democratic state Sens. Jeff Clemens, Darren Soto and Dwight Bullard said they were concerned with the direction of the department under Steverson.
That spurred a handful of Republican senators – and one Democrat – to defend him.
“This man does not deserve the accusations that I have heard,” said Charlie Dean, who chairs the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee. “He is another of the great Americans we have had to raise his hand and tell the truth before my committee.”
Greg Evers said, “You don’t have to tell Jon Steverson to do the right thing because he always does the right thing.”
And Democrat Bill Montford told his colleagues, “I don’t agree with everything he decides but I know him to be a man of honesty and integrity.”
GOP Gov. Rick Scott first appointed Steverson last August. He previously was executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
According to the governor’s website, Steverson also worked at DEP as Special Counsel on Policy and Legislative Affairs and was Acting Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration.
Steverson also worked in the Executive Office of the Governor 2005-09 in multiple roles, including Environmental Policy Coordinator.
