January 27, 2005: Headlines: COS - Panama: COS - Guatemala: COS - Nicaragua: State Government: Natural Resources: Joplin Globe: RPCV Doyle Childers nominated to head Missouri Department of Natural Resources - taught overseas with the Peace Corps, in Panama, Nicaragua, and Guatemala
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January 27, 2005: Headlines: COS - Panama: COS - Guatemala: COS - Nicaragua: State Government: Natural Resources: Joplin Globe: RPCV Doyle Childers nominated to head Missouri Department of Natural Resources - taught overseas with the Peace Corps, in Panama, Nicaragua, and Guatemala
RPCV Doyle Childers nominated to head Missouri Department of Natural Resources - taught overseas with the Peace Corps, in Panama, Nicaragua, and Guatemala
RPCV Doyle Childers nominated to head Missouri Department of Natural Resources - taught overseas with the Peace Corps, in Panama, Nicaragua, and Guatemala
Environmentalists discuss DNR nominee
Susan Redden
Globe Staff Writer
1/27/05
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The selection of a former state senator from Southwest Missouri to head the Missouri Department of Natural Resources was praised and panned Wednesday by local environmental advocates.
A Missouri business group welcomed the choice.
Gov. Matt Blunt on Tuesday nominated Doyle Childers, of Reeds Spring, to head the department that enforces the state's environmental programs and regulations. Childers, 60, was a Republican lawmaker for 22 years before term limits prevented him from seeking re-election last fall.
The appointee was described as "very qualified" by Bob Nichols, of Webb City, head of the Jasper-Newton County Environmental Task Force.
"I don't know him, but I know his reputation," Nichols said. "From what I understand, he has some considerable background in environmental areas, so I think he is a good choice."
Albert Midoux, of Anderson, did not criticize Childers, but questioned whether he would be pressured to put business interests above environmental concerns. He said he was not encouraged that Childers was appointed by Blunt, who has been critical of the DNR.
The governor fired numerous upper-level administrators at the agency when he took office. Blunt has expressed frustration with the length of time it takes the department to decide whether to issue environmental permits to businesses seeking to build or expand.
"I'm afraid he'll be catering to industry and big money," said Midoux, who for years has been an environmental activist in McDonald County.
"I think Mr. Mahfood (Stephen Mahfood, former DNR director) had good intentions and goals, but he was not allowed to achieve them," Midoux said.
Gary Marble, a former state representative from Newton County who is now president of Associated Industries of Missouri, said he was pleased with the announcement. He said that too often, business owners, employers and managers have not had input when environmental laws have been debated and passed.
"I know he is the kind of guy who is definitely going to study the issue," Marble said. "I also know he is going to take into consideration those of us who are paying the bills when the rules and regulations are discussed."
Marble said Southwest Missouri residents, in particular, should be pleased because Childers has in-depth knowledge and experience with poultry plants and other confined animal feeding operations.
"Doyle knows those upside down," said Marble.
In making the appointment, Blunt called Childers "an advocate of Missouri's environmental interests."
"He has accepted the difficult task of balancing the preservation of our state's natural resources with the need to encourage economic growth in our state," Blunt said.
While in the Senate, Childers served on the Agriculture, Conservation, Parks and Tourism Committee. From 1998 to 2000, he was a member of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Chip Mills, a group that investigated how tree harvesting affected Missouri's environment, economy and natural resources.
Before that, he served in the Missouri House for 14 years. He is a former Peace Corps volunteer and science teacher.
Childers' appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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Story Source: Joplin Globe
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Panama; COS - Guatemala; COS - Nicaragua; State Government; Natural Resources
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