Dear Curt

 

Thanks again for taking the time to speak to me by phone a couple weeks ago.  You gave me a lot of insight as to how the system works and that was very helpful.  I am still perplexed about whether or not the state has constitutional authority over exotic animals vs. native wild animals but maybe we can talk that one through some time when you have a few minutes to chat.

 

When I told Roy Harrell that you suggested I meet with Commissioner Meehan, he set it up and we met last week.  Remembering your advice about him being a hunter I tried to keep focused on the exotic pet problem and that was effective.  He seems genuinely concerned and took the initiative to get Col. Julie Jones from FWC on a conference call to discuss my potential service on the Captive Wildlife Committee.

 

I had written Captain Linda Harrison and Ken Haddad and had been told that the people from 1994 had all agreed to reconvene the group and I would not be needed.  After speaking with Commissioner Meehan, Col. Jones said she would be mailing me an invitation this upcoming week but that she was inviting a lot of people who would then be screened by a facilitator for final selection.  I sent the attached letter at the suggestion of Commissioner Meehan that I fully detail why I should be selected.  It is long and self serving, but given the credentials of the people on the committee in 1994 (9 out of 10 made their living off exotic animal use) I should have a chance at serving if it truly is the purpose of the committee to look at the rules objectively.

 

Thought you might want to know that David referred to you as “the voice of reason”.  He asked Gloria Johnson to call me and we are playing phone tag, but I hope to speak with her soon.  Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.

 

For the cats,

Carole Baskin, Founder  (813) 493-4564 best way to reach me

 

S. Curtis Kiser practices in the governmental, environmental and administrative law areas.

Formerly the Republican senator for District 19 in Florida, Mr. Kiser served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1972-82 and was the Republican minority leader from 1978-82. From 1984-94 he served as a member of the Florida Senate. In 1970, he served as assistant general counsel for Governor Claude Kirk. He was often voted “Most Effective Legislator” during his tenure in the House and Senate, and he received the top ranking in the Senate for 1994 by The Miami Herald.

In July 1994, Senator Kiser joined Tom Gallagher’s gubernatorial ticket as lieutenant governor. In October 1994, Mr. Kiser was named chairman of the Commission on Long-Term Care created by the 1994 Legislative Session for a two-year study examining Florida’s nursing homes, ACLFs and other services for the elderly. In September 1994, Mr. Kiser was named chairman of the 1995 Sesquicentennial Commission celebrating Florida’s 150 years of statehood. In 1995, he was named by Comptroller Robert Milligan as a commissioner of the Task Force on Banking Decoupling to study how to remove bank regulation from the state comptroller’s office. Mr. Kiser served for 17 years as a member of the Public Service Commission Nominating Council and has served as chairman on a number of occasions.

 

Mr. Kiser is a noted champion of environmental concerns. The development of the Preservation 2000 Program earned him the Florida Conservation Award on five occasions. In 1995, Mr. Kiser was awarded the Legislative Excellence Award by the Florida Audubon Society for his work on improving the Everglades legislation and his continued support of the Preservation 2000 Program. He was also awarded the 1993 Florida Wildlife Award. Mr. Kiser chaired the drive to create the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In 1999, he was elected chairman of the board of directors for The Theodore Roosevelt Society in Florida, succeeding former Governor Bob Martinez. The TRS is a relatively new policy think tank focused exclusively on state environmen