The Sierra Club said yesterday it is "extremely disappointed" with Gov. Linda Lingle's appointment of Dan Davidson as deputy director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Sierra Club decries Lingle’s
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"We are shocked that Governor Lingle would appoint such a clearly biased individual to the department charged with overseeing the protection of Hawaii's unique land and water resources, conservation areas and endangered flora," said Jeff Mikulina, the club's Hawaii chapter director.
Davidson is executive director of the Land Use Research Foundation, a pro-development lobby group that represents large landowners.
Davidson has demonstrated an extreme pro-development stance in his efforts for the foundation, Mikulina said.
DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward confirmed Davidson's appointment yesterday and said department director Peter Young's comments on his new deputy would be available in a news release from the governor's office.
There was no immediate comment from the Lingle administration, spokesman Russell Pang said. Davidson did not return calls to his foundation office yesterday afternoon.
The Sierra Club said it is especially concerned with the appointment because he joins Young, a former real estate appraiser.
"With Young and Davidson at the helm, it appears that the Land Department will be open for business, and only business," Mikulina said.
Sierra Club
Office of the Governor