Saturday, January 10, 2009

Nixon Taps 39-Year-Old Yale Dean For DNR

A 39-year-old associate dean at Yale Law School has been tapped by Governor-elect Jay Nixon to head the Department of Natural Resources.

Mark Templeton, a native of Olivette, Mo., worked at a New York consulting firm from 2001 to 2005, helping to develop "green" markets for the environmental sector. After leaving McKinsey & Company, he managed an annual budget of $105 million dollars as associate dean and chief operating officer at Yale Law School.

In a statement Saturday, Nixon said Templeton will lead his initiatives to expand the production of alternative energy in Missouri.

"Expanding the production of alternative energy and creating next generation jobs aren't things government can do alone," Templeton said in the statement. "I look forward to bringing the public, businesses and non-profit organizations together to develop energy solutions for tomorrow and preserve our state's natural resources," he added.

Greene County Commissioner Dave Coonrod was a candidate for the position but told KY3 News Friday he had been passed over for another out-of-state candidate.

Nixon has made nine of the ten appointments to his cabinet. The only remaining appointment he has to make is to pick a designate to lead the Department of Insurance.

Nixon will officially take office Monday when he is inaugurated in Jefferson City.


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