NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Haslam today named Robert "Bob" Martineau Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).
Martineau is a partner at Waller Lansden Dortch and Davis, PLLC, practicing in the area of environmental and regulatory law, and he has extensive experience working with companies on the development and implementation of corporate environmental management programs and auditing programs.
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Susan Cooper will remain in her position on an interim basis as Governor-elect Bill Haslam today announced the formation of a new Tennessee Health and Wellness Commission.
The purpose of the commission is to assemble members of public health agencies, private health interests, business, education, health consumers and other stakeholders to develop strategies to improve the overall health and wellness of Tennesseans.
Dr. John Lacey, the Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of UT Medical Center and a practicing general internist, will chair the commission for Gov.-elect Haslam.
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Haslam today named Steve Cates Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services.
The Department of General Services operates the functions of state government, including building management, printing and photographic services, food services, records management, warehousing and procurement.
Cates has been a partner in Cates-Kottas Development since 1991, helping to build some of Middle Tennessee’s most beautiful neighborhoods.
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TDEC appointment
Pretty disappointing. Exactly what qualifies as a conflict of interest?
(link...)
It looks like some other attorneys in that firm may have been on possibles list earlier...
(link...)
Looks like the TDEC
Looks like the TDEC commissioners firm has done a lot of environmental work related to TDEC ...
The article ...
(link...)
Battle is on over Nashville emissions testing contract
Tennessean article
(link...)
Water Quality Legislation
Bankers?
Article
(link...)
My first assessment of the Martineau appointment...
We're screwed.
...
UGH.
Thanks for digging all that
Thanks for digging all that up jbr. I am not at all surprised, given the brief bio. The regulated become the regulators...
State of North Carolina v TVA
***
Martineau's Contributions
New visitor to this site while doing research on the TDEC appointment.
I decided to look up Mr. Martineau's contributions on opensecrets.org.
All of his donations there (save one) are to Democrats, which was a bit surprising:
Howard Dean, Harold Ford, John Edwards, Roy Herron, Tennessee Democratic Party, and President Obama.
Make of it what you will.
Folks from that firm look
Folks from that firm look like they do a lot of donating to a lot of candidates. Looks like contributions from the members of firm to ...
Rock City PAC
Affiliate: Bob Corker (R-Tenn)
Location: Franklin, TN 37069
Industry: Leadership PACs; Republican leadership PAC
Treasurer: Kaegi, Kimberly
FEC Committee ID: C00436410
Bob Corker
Fred Thompson
Marsha Blackburn
Lamar Alexander
Bill Frist
Van Hillary
Ed Bryant
Mike Pence
Robin Smith
Mitt Romney
Charlie Ross
Eric Cantor
etc.
The long donation list on Opensecrets.org...
(link...)
At "Follow The Money" web
At "Follow The Money" web site ...
WALLER LANSDEN DORTCH & DAVIS
Lawyers & Lobbyists
2004-2010 Company or PAC $115,127 $0 Employees $301,815 Total $416,942
The search link ...
(link...)
I am more concerned about who they represent. So what if they give Jim Cooper $250. Could be meaningless.
I'm not giving up hope...
that we'll see Bob Martineau carry on in the awesome fashion of his predecessor, Jim Fyke. Fyke, while I have my grievances with certain things, set a high bar for service to the people of Tennessee. At this point, given Haslem's anti TDEC campaign rhetoric and Martineau's history of fighting on the side of the polluters, I have to say I'm concerned.
Update: I am getting cautious optimism from my sources who know Bob Martineau. They think we dodged a bullet compared to some names on the short list. Encouraging.
Maybe I am being too cynical
Maybe I am being too cynical but it seems like it is a "It's not as bad as it could have been" sort of thing.
Our best hope is that, as a
Our best hope is that, as a professional paid advocate, he will fight just as hard for the side now paying him as he did the other side when they were paying him.
I guess I am missing
I guess I am missing something. Based on the past it looks like his firm will likely be in court cases against TDEC, of which he is commissioner.
What I'm saying is that it
What I'm saying is that it appears that in the past he was getting paid to advocate for his clients, the corporate polluters. Now he is getting paid to advocate for the people of Tennessee and our environment.
A good lawyer should be able to vigorously argue either side of a case. We just have to hope he's on the right side, i.e. the side of the people paying him now.
Sorry about confusion, I
Sorry about confusion, I wasn't referring to your post, although I can see why it looks that way. Was a general statement about the appointment.
Tennessee Conservation Commission Mtg
Is this coming Friday in Nashville. We'll know more then, as one of the items on the agenda is the new regime and its goals for conservation and the environment.
On Thursday night the Commission is honoring Governor Bredesen and Commissioner Fyke for all their accomplishments of the last eight years, and they are substantial. The reception is hosted by Congressman and Mrs. Cooper at their home in Nashville.
I'll report back.
Martineau looks to have
Martineau looks to have represented GM in this EPA case.
Link
Looks like another partner from that firm was appointed TDEC commissioner from 1996-97
From an article on "Center for Public Integrity" web site titled "The Bush Team: Bush’s Choice of EPA Advisers Signals Tilt Toward Industry"
The article
Looks like they represented the developers of Turkey Creek
Article