President Donald Trump is nominating Tallahassee attorney Matthew Leopold for Environmental Protection Agency general counsel, and advocates say his background as a Florida regulator is a plus.
For the past two years, Leopold has worked in the Tallahassee office of mega firm Carlton Fields.
Before that, he worked as general counsel for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and in the environmental division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Audubon of Florida executive director Eric Draper says Leopold鈥檚 expertise sets him apart from many of Trump鈥檚 nominees.
鈥淗e鈥檚 probably conservative and meets that kind of litmus test for the Trump Administration. But I鈥檇 much rather have someone in there that I know, that I鈥檝e worked with before, than somebody that鈥檚 just an ideologue.鈥�
Trump's vow to roll back clean air and water regulations has Draper bracing for the worst.
A White House statement also mentions Leopold鈥檚 service as former Gov. Jeb Bush鈥檚 Washington, D.C. environmental advisor.
The position requires Senate confirmation.
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