Here's who I nominate to head up the EPA...

[LiberalHeart]

His name is Hugh Kaufman. Many years ago when I was fighting hazardous waste dumping in my community, I learned about this guy from people who'd gotten to know him during the Love Canal mess. He worked at EPA, but fought for the environment even when the powers that be at the agency were doing everything they could to stop him.

His life was hell for a while. It got so bad, the head of the EPA had the FBI spying on him, following him around. Once they thought they really had the goods on him: he was seen leaving a motel with a woman. Never mind that she was his wife.

He took the agency to court and won. And he stayed on at the EPA even when he was getting treated like manure there -- because he cared that much about staying inside and working to help citizens and the environment. Back when I was involved in the fight against the poisoning of our land, he came to our community to help us (not as an EPA official, but on his own time and out of the goodness of his heart).

Learn more about him here:

http://multinationalmonitor.org/mm2002/02april/april02interviewkaufman.html

http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/hugh_kaufman/

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5087/is_/ai_n25217668

[KT2000]

1. Yes! Yes! Yes!!!

and the ombudsman Martin (sorry I can't remember his first name)
They slept over night for quite a while in the ombudsman's office protecting files that Whitman was trying to confiscate!

These two are true heroes and extremely qualified.

[LiberalHeart]

2. Yes, both are heroes. And here's a link to some great history re Kaufman...

http://books.google.com/books?id=SwuCxfZn_kEC&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=Hugh+Kaufman+EPA&source=web&ots=PwrFMblTvG&sig=31NBsQAoNxWpxQAMWQr2qpmouvM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result#PPA55,M1

Edited to add: Martin's first name is Robert.

[KT2000]

3. Thanks -

all I could think of was Steve!?!?!
Bob Martin lives in the country where I live - catching his breath. His father was the sheriff - also a man of integrity.
Hope he jumps in again.