Governor Charlie Crist recently reappointed one member and appointed one new member to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
*Judith C. “Judy” Whitehead of Brooksville was reappointed. She was first appointed to the Governing Board in March 2003. Whitehead is the current Governing Board vice chair and chair ex officio of the District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board. Her term begins April 5, 2007 and ends March 1, 2011. She is the owner of Residential Appraisal Service.
*Pat Glass of Palmetto was appointed to succeed Edward W. Chance, who passed away in June 2006. Her term begins April 5, 2007 and ends March 1, 2009. Glass is retired and serves as a community volunteer. She is a former Manatee County Commissioner. Ms. Glass will also assume responsibility as co-chair ex officio of the District’s Manasota Basin Board.
Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed
by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to manage the water and related resources of west central Florida to meet the needs of current and future water users while protecting the environment. Each Governing Board member also serves as chair ex officio of a Basin Board.
The District has eight regional Basin Boards that provide guidance for local programs that are specific to the watershed basins they protect. The District’s ninth basin, the Green Swamp, is administered by the Governing Board. Basin Boards work with local governments and other entities on water resource projects that have an impact in local communities. Basin Boards often provide partial funding for these projects in partnership with a local government or local cooperator.