Wednesday, January 12, 2011

No place to run from Kacish's ODNR bloodhounds UPDATED

Well, that job didn’t last long.

Mike Shelton, the former chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Communications tried to make a side step by becoming a public information specialist with the department’s Division of Parks and Recreation.

However, the new Kasich Administration wanted to make a clean sweep of as many former Gov. Ted Strickland’s appointments as possible.

Thus, while Shelton tried to embed himself into the Parks Division at the end of the year he “resigned” for his short-term Parks Division position, effective January 7.

Appointed as the agency’s new full-time chief was David Payne. ODNR Director David Mustine noted in a prepared press release that Payne “...has a diverse management background and excels at marketing and strategic development.”

As for Payne, the Department-supplied press release also says “he prides himself on bringing people together and working productively with a broad base of constituents,” and that “He has a passion for Ohio’s award-winning state parks system and enjoys camping, hiking, and ice fishing.”

Returning to his role as assistant parks division chief is John Hunter, who served as acting division chief until Payne's appointment. It was Hunter who asked Shelton if he wanted the communicator's job.

Other Kasich ODNR newbie appointees include Laura Jones who was appointed Chief of the Office of Communications; Shelton’s old job.

Also, appointed was Ben Pendery who joins the ODNR administrative staff as its legislative liaison. Pendery most recently served with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission.

Other appointments announced by Mustine include:

* Bob Boyles as acting chief for the Division of Forestry.

* Ted Lozier as acting chief for the Division of Soil & Water Resources.

* Carla Camp as acting chief for the Office of Budget & Finance. Camp spent her first 21 years of state service in the fiscal section of the Department of Youth services, and has been the assistant chief for ODNR.

A call to Scott Zody, ODNR assistant director, has been placed but has not yet been returned.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFRischkorn@News-Herald.com

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