Senate confirms Rodney Barreto as chair of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission amid public opposition.
In a significant legislative move, the Florida Senate voted on Tuesday afternoon to reconfirm Rodney Barreto as chairperson of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The decision came despite a wave of public opposition, including numerous emails directed to lawmakers urging them to reject Barreto’s reappointment. Critics highlighted the commission’s environmental record and its controversial handling of a tragic boat crash investigation that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl in Biscayne Bay.
The Senate approved Barreto’s reconfirmation with a substantial majority, passing the vote 31 to 7. Notably, Barreto has held the chairperson position at the commission for over 20 years and is recognized as a prominent developer and lobbyist based in Miami-Dade. The confirmation vote received particular attention after Democratic Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith from Orlando removed Barreto’s name from a broader list of appointments presented by Governor Ron DeSantis, citing the significant public outcry against Barreto.
Opponents of Barreto’s reappointment raised concerns regarding his approach to balancing development with environmental preservation and the agency’s oversight of the investigation into the boat crash incident. This crash, which took place in September 2022, claimed the life of a student from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy and left another individual with enduring physical and mental disabilities.
A report from the Miami Herald brought additional scrutiny to the commission’s investigation methods, leading the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office to reassess initial misdemeanor charges against the boat operator, Doral real estate broker George Pino. Following the investigation, Pino was subsequently charged with felony vessel homicide, which carries a potential prison sentence of 15 years.
Evidence revealed by the Miami Herald indicated that wildlife commission investigators failed to follow up with key witnesses immediately after the crash, despite conflicting testimonies regarding Pino’s account. Furthermore, Pino was not subjected to a sobriety test on the night of the incident, despite having admitted to officers that he had been drinking.
In response to the Herald’s investigative reports, Barreto criticized the coverage, claiming it contained misleading narratives. Just before the confirmation vote, Senator Smith noted that his and other senators’ correspondence were flooded with constituents voicing legitimate concerns regarding Barreto’s reappointment, particularly in light of the handling of the Pino investigation.
The outcome of the Senate vote underscores the complex intersection of environmental policy, development interests, and public accountability in Florida’s governance, as debates surrounding Barreto’s leadership continue to resonate among constituents and stakeholders alike.
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