FYI Begin forwarded message: > From: Press Release from Iowa Governor's Office [mailto:[log in to unmask] > ] > Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:30 PM > To: Press Release from the Governor's Office > Subject: GOVERNOR CULVER MAKES 4 KEY APPOINTMENTS > > OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR > > Governor Chet Culver « Lt. Governor Patty Judge > > > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > April 29, 2009 > > Contact: > > Troy Price, Governor’s Office > > 515-281-0173 > > [log in to unmask] > > GOVERNOR CULVER MAKES 4 KEY APPOINTMENT > > DES MOINES – Today, Governor Chet Culver named four individuals to > serve in key positions throughout state government. The Governor > appointed Shearon Elderkin to the Iowa Power Fund Board, Carrie La > Seur to the Environmental Protection Commission, John Mathes as the > Interim Commandant of the Iowa Veterans Home, and Tomas Rodriguez as > Iowa’s State Public Defender. > > “As Governor, I am committed to appointing qualified, dedicated > individuals to positions throughout state government,” said Governor > Culver. “These four individuals have shown throughout their careers > their commitment to Iowans and moving this state forward. I look > forward to working with Shearon, Carrie, John and Tomas as together > we build a stronger, safer Iowa.” > > Shearon Elderkin, of Cedar Rapids, is a former elementary school > teacher and graduate of the University of Iowa who serves on the > Friends of the Linn County Conservation Board and served on the > Environmental Protection Commission. As one of the 18-members of the > Iowa Power Fund Board, she will consider and approve incentives from > the state’s fund to help grow and support Iowa’s energy independence > and alternative energy efforts. Her term begins on May 1st, and she > will stand for confirmation before the Iowa Senate next year. > > Carrie La Seur, of Mt. Vernon, is president and founder of Plains > Justice, a public interest environmental law center. She is a > graduate of Yale Law School and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford > University. She also served on the Iowa Power Fund Board. As a > member of the 9-person Environmental Protection Commission, she will > provide policy oversight over the state’s environmental protection > efforts. Her term begins on May 1st, and she will stand for > confirmation before the Iowa Senate next year. > > John Mathes will serve for a second time as the Interim Commandant > of the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Mathes is stepping down > as Superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Treatment Facility, where he > has served since 2007. He previously served as Interim Commandant > of the Iowa Veterans Home in 2004. Mathes will serve for one year, > in which time Governor Culver will conduct a search and name a > permanent Commandant. > > Tomas Rodriguez, as the State Public Defender, will be responsible > for coordinating the provision of legal representation to indigent > persons under arrest or charged with a crime, in juvenile cases, and > on appeal in criminal and post-conviction relief cases. Rodriguez > is the current Chief Public Defender in Marshalltown, where he has > served since 2006. Rodriguez received his bachelor’s degree from > St. Ambrose College in Davenport before earning his Juris Doctorate > in 1981 from the University of Iowa’s College of Law. Rodriguez > taught for 14 years in the Department of Management at the > University of Northern Iowa and has over 24 years of experience of > general law practice. Rodriguez begins his new position on May 15, > and will stand for confirmation before the Iowa Senate next year. > > > > ### - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp