COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Another Southwest Floridian has been named to the board of the South Florida Water Management District. Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis named Marco Island City Councilor Charlette Roman to the board.
"This is just an incredible opportunity," Roman said at a press conference at the North Collier Regional Park. "We're focused on the work that needs to be done and I'm ready to get started."
In January, DeSantis asked all previous nine members of the board to resign, believing that they weren't getting enough done for clean water initiatives.
By the end of January, DeSantis had named Sanibel City Councilman Chauncey Goss to the water management district's board.
At the press conference, DeSantis also announced that Charlie Martinez of Miami-Dade and Cheryl Meads of Monroe County will also serve on the board.
"They all have the ability to work constructively, not only with each other, but with all stakeholders," DeSantis said.
Roman, who retired as a full colonel from the U.S. Army, has lived in Florida for eighteen years. She said she has spent thousands of hours learning about Florida's environment, and ways to protect it. Now she wants to work to make sure last year's problems with red tide and blue-green algae don't get repeated.
"I think that was a wake-up call for our citizens and our leaders," she said. "We really have to take steps to protect our environment and clean the waterways."
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has endorsed Roman for the South Florida Water Management District, writing, "As an elected and appointed official, she takes the time to study the issues, hear from the experts and public, and suggest solutions that result in fair and balanced outcomes."
