Governor Evers Says State is Having a Hard Time Hiring New DNR Secretary

Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 -- 8:04 AM

(Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) Gov. Tony Evers said the state is having a difficult time hiring a new secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources due to the firing of his appointees by the Republican-controlled Senate.

According to Danielle Kaeding with Wisconsin Public Radio, in October, GOP lawmakers voted to fire eight appointees to state boards and commissions, including four members of the Natural Resources Board.

The board oversees environmental and wildlife regulations for the DNR. All Republicans except for Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, rejected confirmation of Sharon Adams, Sandra Dee Naas, Dylan Jennings and Jim VandenBrook.

Just days after the vote, former DNR Secretary Adam Payne told Evers in a letter that he was resigning as head of the agency for personal reasons on Nov. 1. Payne had yet to be confirmed by the Senate as he was advocating for resources to address PFAS contamination and the agency's controversial wolf management plan. 

In an interview with WPR, Evers said Republicans need to stop blocking his appointees. "It makes it more difficult just to hire a DNR secretary," Evers said. "We'll get somebody. We'll get a good person. But to have that hanging over their head, and then having decisions being made by that person based upon 'Am I going to be hired, approved by the Senate?' That's just wrong."

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