Florida’s top environmental leader to keep job

With a commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change, Noah Valenstein was approved Tuesday by the Florida Cabinet to remain as the state’s top environmental official.

The unanimous vote by the Cabinet — Attorney General Ashley Moody, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis — supported Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recommendation to keep Valenstein as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Former Gov. Rick Scott first appointed Valenstein to the $151,000-a-year job in May 2017.

Fried, the lone Democrat on the Cabinet, said she was encouraged by Valenstein’s commitment in recent talks to work on water-quality issues with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which she leads.

By remaining in the role, Valenstein will help oversee a wide-ranging environmental plan DeSantis rolled out days after taking office.

The governor’s proposal calls for including $625 million in the 2019-2020 budget — and $2.5 billion over the next four years — for Everglades restoration and water resource protection.

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