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.
Vice Chairman
Mast Named Vice Chairman of Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee
Mast Joins 3 Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittees
Top Priority Will Be Cleaning Florida Waterways
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today was named Vice Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. He was also named a member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, as well as the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
“Ensuring our water is safe and clean for future generations is critically important to our community,” Rep. Mast said. “Serving as vice chairman of this important subcommittee will help elevate the voices of the thousands of residents of the Treasure Coast whose lives and businesses are being hurt by Lake Okeechobee water discharges. Improving the water quality in our community will be my top priority as Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.”
The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment consists of matters relating to water resources development, conservation and management, water pollution control, water infrastructure and hazardous waste cleanup. On these issues, the committee works closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for a number of projects important to water quality in Florida, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Rep. Mast recently hosted Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (PA-9) in the 18th Congressional District for an aerial tour of Florida waterway infrastructure projects.
“Brian is already establishing himself as a leader on water issues in Congress, and after seeing many of the local projects in his community firsthand, I’m confident he’ll be a strong voice for his constituents and our country as Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee,” Chairman Shuster said.
