Skvarla a better fit leading economic development

Published December 4, 2014

Editorial by Fayetteville Observer, December 3, 2014.

The hallmark of John Skvarla's tenure as leader of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been customer service.

That would have been praiseworthy if he saw all the residents of North Carolina, and their air, water and land, as his agency's primary customers.

But Skvarla's vision was that his customers were the businesses and industries his department regulated. It's good that he reformed DENR's decision-making process, so permit applicants could get fast responses and approvals. But in the process, he turned what was at least a nominal watchdog into something closer to industry's lapdog.

For examples, consider the agency's close and overly cordial relationship with Duke Energy, and its initial lackadaisical response to Duke's massive coal-ash spill in Eden last winter.

But as the Pinehurst resident takes over as North Carolina's commerce secretary, following the resignation of Secretary Sharon Decker, he's moving into a position better suited to his long and significant corporate and entrepreneurial experience.

We expect he'll do well there, and so will the state's economic-development prospects.

And back at DENR, we need a new secretary with environmental and regulatory credentials.

No lapdogs, please.

http://www.fayobserver.com/opinion/our-view-skvarla-a-better-fit-leading-economic-development/article_033ffbe4-70a5-51e0-9ba2-776d873ca818.html