Gov.-elect Peter Shumlin announced today that Deb Markowitz, his former contender in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, will be the secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources. David Mears, an expert in environmental law, will serve as the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Markowitz is the third of the four rivals in the primary to find a home in Shumlin’s administration. Susan Bartlett was first tapped as a special assistant, and last week Doug Racine, who lost the primary by just a few hundred votes in a recount, was named secretary of the Agency of Human Services. Dunne is not seeking a place in the administration, Shumlin said.
When asked by a reporter at the presser in Montpelier whether he had read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s historic account of Lincoln’s Cabinet “Team of Rivals,” Shumlin said hadn’t read the book, and he doesn’t think of his former challengers in the primary race as “rivals.”
Shumlin told reporters that he chose Markowitz because of her management skills and her dual interests in protecting the environment and bolstering the state’s economy. Markowitz served six terms as the Secretary of State, and Shumlin said she is widely recognized for eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy for businesses seeking to register with the state. In a short speech, Markowitz characterized the notion of pitting the environment against business as a false choice.
“It’s exciting to work with a governor who believes in getting things done,” Markowitz said.
Shumlin said: “When the telephone rings … we want someone on the other end to say Vermont is open for business.”
Mears “attended” the presser via Skype from Guangzhou, China, where he is a guest lecturer at Sun Yat Sen University of Law. Mears, an associate professor at Vermont Law School, will be cutting his Fulbright Scholarship short to join Shumlin’s administration.
The governor-elect said the biggest environmental issue of today is global warming. Facing that environmental challenge, he said, “must be integrated in our thinking.”
Shumlin said he would like to see the state develop a strategic, statewide plan for renewable energy, including the siting of wind towers.
Markowitz and Shumlin also suggested that climate change should become listed as one of the criteria in the Act 250 process for new projects.
Environmental groups hailed the announcement.
Elizabeth Courtney of the Vermont Natural Resources Council described Deb Markowitz and David Mears as “excellent choices,” in a statement.
“Deb Markowitz has a proven track record of management and leadership,” Courtney said. “She will bring fresh vision and energy to a critical Vermont agency that is filled with dedicated employees, but has suffered from inconsistent leadership in recent years. Markowitz understands the climate, energy, and environmental challenges before us, and she has the management skills to meet them head on.”
Mears was the chair of the board of the Vermont League of Conservation Voters and will step down to accept the appointment in January.
Andrea Stander, the executive director of the Vermont League of Conservation Voters, said in a statement: “Governor-Elect Peter Shumlin is putting together a great team to lead ANR. I have great confidence that Deb Markowitz and David Mears will lead the agency into a new era of effectiveness and environmental protection.”
VLS Dean Jeff Shields said Mears, who was the director of the law school’s environmental law and land use clinics, contributed greatly to VLS.
Professor Marc Mihaly, director of the school’s Environmental Law Center, said: “We’re confident David will play a leading role in the new administration at this critical time in Vermont ’s history.”
