Executive Council majority decides top environmental post should be filled by next Governor.
Governor Shaheen called the council?s rejection of Will Abbot an attempt to ?politically unravel? state efforts to protect the environment. But the councilors who killed the nomination, Ray Weiczorek, David Wheeler, and Ray Burton said they were doing what?s best for NH. Burton, who several months ago was crediting abbot for his work at the Squam lakes science center and as past director of the land and community investment program, said yesterday, that he doesn?t believe Abbott is up to the job.
'I wanted more leadership type of characteristics than Will abbott would bring at that particular department at this particular time.'
And Burton?s emphasis on this particular time is apt. To a man, the councilors who opposed Abbott said the next environmental services commissioner should be chosen by the next governor. Councilor Ray Weiczorek.
'When you come in you build your team. When you get a baseball manager goes to his team usually you pick your own coaches. They don?t usually hand you all their coaches you get to pick you own, the people that you know you can work with to get the things done that are a priority with you.'
But some say Weiczorek?s notion of team play was taken to another level by Ray Burton. Last week the 24 year council veteran took the controversial step of brokering a meeting between Abbott and the man he?s long supported for Governor, republican nominee Craig Benson. Burton says that move was made out of consideration for both men, and says if Benson had an opinion of Abbott, he did not make it known. Burton also claimed he would consider any other Shaheen nominee with an open mind.
"I'm ready to work with Governor Shaheen or any person on future nominees to that particular commissionership. And I would encorage her to bring forth any nominees."
"I do not find those commments credible in any way shape or
form."
Governor Shaheen said Burton had led her to believe he would support Will Abbot, and says Abbots defeat was the triumph of anti-environmental forces.
"Clearly I have to assume that the opposition is to Will's support of the environment, and his long history of working hard to address environemntal issues."
Shaheen says she will make no further attempts to nominate an environmental services commissioner.
