Mast recommends Negron, Thurlow-Lippisch for South Florida Water Management District board

Editor's note: This column has been updated to reflect Gov. Ron DeSantis' announcement Thursday. 

Things are about to get interesting at the South Florida Water Management District. 

Two months after the water district flouted Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis' request to delay approval of a controversial sugar land lease, the newly inaugurated governor is calling for the resignation of all of the district's governing board members. 

Things were already in flux at the district: One of the nine board members resigned suddenly this month; the terms of three others are set to expire in March.  

Speaking in downtown Stuart on Thursday, DeSantis made it clear he wants a clean slate to make his own appointments to the board, which plays a critical role in setting environmental policy across 16 counties. 

“I think we just need a fresh start so that we can move forward as Floridians united,” DeSantis said. 

He didn't reveal whom he would appoint to the water district's board, but his close adviser U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City, has made some suggestions.  

Among them: Joe Negron, former president of the Florida Senate. 

Mast, who chairs DeSantis' environmental transition team, told me Wednesday he recommended Negron for one of the seats in play on the district's governing board (which are unpaid positions).

Mast cited Negron's years of work on a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee, a project designed to receive and clean excess lake water that's currently diverted to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. The South Florida Water Management District is the state's lead agency on the $1.6 billion project, known as the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir.

“State Senate President Negron has been a champion for the reservoir and continues to be a champion of the reservoir," Mast said. "He wants to see that through."

Ensuring the reservoir is built — and built effectively — is at the center of a plan to curtail recurring toxic algae blooms in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. 

“He knows this as well as anybody, and I think he would be a good addition," Mast said of Negron. 

But when reached via text Wednesday evening, Negron signaled he doesn't want the position.

The Republican from Stuart, who started a new job Dec. 4 as general counsel for the private prison firm The GEO Group, said he would continue to fight for the Everglades reservoir and "wholeheartedly support" DeSantis' environmental agenda. 

"However," he added, "at this time, I am focused on my responsibilities in the private sector."

He said he was confident the South Florida Water Management District would "faithfully implement" the law enabling the reservoir, Senate Bill 10.

"I will continue to fight against the Lake O discharges, but not as a member of the SFWMD board," he wrote. 

In addition to Negron, Mast also recommended DeSantis appoint Martin County resident and environmental advocate Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch to the district's governing board. 

Thurlow-Lippisch, a Republican and former member of the Sewall's Point Town Commission, has for decades been a vocal advocate for the St. Lucie River.  

"She's been a stalwart on this," Mast said.

If DeSantis selects her for a seat on the governing board, Thurlow-Lippisch said she would focus on improving the culture of the South Florida Water Management District by fostering more "open and honest discussion" about environmental challenges facing our region.

“I feel like people on the board, they’re just under the iron hand of the governor — and that’s how it was with Gov. (Rick) Scott," Thurlow-Lippisch said Wednesday. "It was an iron hand, because his only goal was jobs, jobs, jobs. And he achieved that goal, but there were sacrifices, and one of them was the natural environment."

More: New documentary spotlights Florida's challenges as DeSantis takes office

More: This is why 'Toxic 2018' was a game-changer for water in Florida

This is a big deal for the district. 

If DeSantis acts on such recommendations, he would significantly shift the composition of the water district's board.

Under former Gov. Scott, the board was more reflective of industry interests than environmental concerns. Its members were less than gung-ho about making the Everglades reservoir as big and bold as possible — despite the toxic algae crisis that has raged on Florida's east and west coasts. The focus under Scott was cutting the district's tax revenue.   

It's safe to say the board is light on environmental advocates. 

Melanie Peterson, who resigned this month as vice chair of the board — 3 years before her term was to expire — is a Realtor who has been active with the Florida Farm Bureau. In her resignation letter to Scott, she stated her businesses "require more of my personal attention."

Brian Accardo, the district's general counsel and chief of staff, also resigned this month. Mast said he expects DeSantis to replace the agency's executive director, Ernie Marks, too.

The three board members whose terms expire in March are:

• Sam Accursio, owner of Sam S. Accursio & Sons Farms
• Rick Barber, a civil engineer
• James Moran, an attorney 

Like DeSantis, Mast thinks all of the board members should resign. He publicly called on them to do so last month, after the district signed the controversial lease with a subsidiary of sugar powerhouse Florida Crystals — despite concerns that it could stymie progress of the Everglades reservoir. 

Mast said board members "have been derelict in their duties."

Brandon Tucker, a member of the district's governing board, said Thursday he has no intention of resigning, despite the governor's request. 

"I believe I made a commitment to serve out my term," said Tucker, who has two years remaining on the board. 

DeSantis did not say if he would push to remove any board members who refuse to resign. 

But this much is clear: During his first week on the job as governor, DeSantis has drawn significant battle lines. 

Time will tell how willing he is to hold his ground and overhaul environmental policy in Florida. 

Eve Samples is opinion and audience engagement editor for TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact her at eve.samples@tcpalm.com or @EveSamples on Twitter.