At its meeting Dec. 7 in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) elected Bo Rivard, of Panama City, to serve as chairman, effective immediately.
Rivard replaces Chairman Brian Yablonski, of Tallahassee. The term of chairman is one year.
Rivard has served on the Commission since March 2013. He is a partner with Harrison, Rivard, Duncan & Buzzett in Panama City. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from Samford University.
Rivard’s legal practice has been focused on representing both public and private clients in health care, land use, transportation, litigation and regulatory matters. He has served as outside counsel for numerous local governments and state agencies.
Rivard is actively engaged in his community. He was chairman of Bay County Chamber of Commerce (2011) and has served on many other local boards. He and his wife, Nicole, have three children and live in Panama City.
Robert Spottswood of Key West was elected vice chairman. Spottswood has served on the Commission since 2015. He is the chief executive officer of Spottswood Companies, Inc. He currently serves as a member of the Third District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission and recently served on the Governor’s Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding. Spottswood received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law.
Spottswood replaces Vice Chairman Aliese P. “Liesa” Priddy, of Immokalee.
Chairman
Statement by CARE FL Steering Committee Chairman Brent Hanlon RE: SB 386 High Speed Rail Safety Act
Today, Senator Debbie Mayfield filed Senate Bill 386 to create a high speed passenger rail safety act. Representatives MaryLynn Magar, Gayle Harrell and Erin Grall also filed a house companion. Brent Hanlon, chair of Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida issued the following statement.
“On behalf of the members of Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida and concerned residents in the Treasure Coast region, we thank and applaud Sen. Mayfield and Reps. Magar, Harrell and Grall for filing legislation to protect our safety and well-being. The thoughtful measure specifically addresses Florida’s current unacceptable lack of any law or regulation governing high speed rail safety.
“What many Floridians do not realize is that All Aboard Florida (AAF) plans to send up to 32 high-speed passenger trains barreling through our small communities each day, negatively affecting thousands of school children, first responders, pedestrians and residents. As if that’s not enough, they also plan to add additional freight trains that may carry hazardous materials, increasing the risk for something to go wrong. And to top it all off, AAF wants us to pay for the cost of maintaining the upgrades necessary to protect ourselves from these dangerous trains. This important legislation will ensure that AAF is solely responsible for the cost of upgrading and installing the appropriate safety measures desperately needed at high-speed rail crossings, protecting not only the safety and well-being of Treasure Coast residents, but our pocketbooks as well.
“Sen. Mayfield and Reps. Magar, Harrell and Grall fully understand the negative impact the AAF project would have on our communities if allowed to move forward as planned, and have taken commendable action today to not only put sensible state wide and not project specific regulations in place to enhance public safety, but to alleviate the financial burden that would have been placed squarely on the backs of our local governments as well.”
CARE FL is a coalition created by a group of concerned community leaders, organizations and neighbors in South Florida and the Treasure Coast. Our group continues to grow. We share a common goal: Protecting the safety, welfare and way of life for the families, businesses and retirees who live in and around our communities. To learn more about CARE FL’s concerns, visit www.saveourfl.com and follow us on Twitter @CARE_FL or like us on Facebook.
