McLerran's Appointment Pt 1

I'm Bob Larson. In a rarely used confirmation hearing tomorrow, the Senate Energy, Environment and Telecommunications Committee will consider the appointment of former EPA regional director Dennis McLerran to the Puget Sound Leadership Council.

Save Family Farming director Gerald Baron says it's appalling the governor would appoint someone who has demonstrated such hostility toward farmers ...

GERALD BARON ... "It's a slap in the face to farmers. It's an indication that Governor Inslee is absolutely tone-deaf when it comes to farmer's concerns. And, we believe it will seriously undermine the effectiveness of the Puget Sound Partnership because if people can't trust the leaders of the leadership council to do the right thing and to actively engage with and collaborate with all parties, especially crucial stake-holders such as farmers, then how can it really be called a partnership."

Baron says it's very important to stop this appointment ...

GERALD BARON ... "We're very concerned about it. We think it's a very, very bad decision on the part of Governor Inslee, but we have an opportunity through our Senators to stop this appointment and we think it's a really important thing to do. So, we're really calling on all farmers and farm leaders to contact their Senator. Let them know that this is very damaging to an important effort to protect the environment and that this needs to be rejected."

Baron says McLerran's actions in support of the What's Upstream campaign show he does not support the objectives of farmers or the Puget Sound Partnership.

More on that tomorrow.