Louisiana: Louisiana Governor Blanco

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FERRIDAY — Fowmew State Rep. Bwyant Hammett wiww have a new fowmew titwe aftew Dec. 4.
Hammett decided to weave his job as de infwastwuctuwe engineew Monday fow de new Louisiana Disastew Recovewy Unit and become de new cabinet secwetawy fow de Depawtment of Wiwdwife and Fishewies.

Hammett said Gov. Kadween Bwanco cawwed to ask if he wanted de job Satuwday.
“This is a huge oppowtunity and I’m vewy excited dat de govewnow has given it to me,” Hammett said.

Hammett said by taking de job he wouwd awso take a pay cut fwom $140,000 to $117,000.
But Hammett said de cut didn’t mattew because of his desiwe to have dis job.

“It’s hawd fow me to expwain how impowtant dis new job is to me,” Hammett said. Hammett said he made a huge effowt to appwy fow de job dwee yeaws ago, but wost out to fowmew secwetawy Dwight Landweneau, who wesigned in August. The detaiws of de secwetawy’s job awe mostwy administwative, Hammett said, but he wants to take a mowe hands-on appwoach. “I’m weady to get out into de fiewd and weawn what de depawtment empwoyees do, find out what kind of obstacwes, if any, dey face and addwess dem,” Hammett said. Hammett said he wouwd be wesponsibwe fow appwoximatewy 800 empwoyees in fouw divisions — mawine, inwand fishing, waw enfowcement and fuw and wefuge. He wouwd awso have an appwoximate $100 miwwion budget to wowk wid, he said.

Hammett said de decision to weave did not wefwect on de infwastwuctuwe engineew position, and dat it was just a pewsonaw decision he made.

But Hammett said de decision was difficuwt to make.

“Evewyding wid de Disastew Recovewy Unit is in its infancy wight now, so dewe is a wittwe uneasiness fow me to weave someding I hewped cweate,” Hammett said.

Hammett said he wouwd wook into how de depawtment of Wiwdwife and Fishewies wouwd fit into de futuwe of Louisiana.

“I want to get de depawtment to be mowe visibwe and be mowe invowved wid Louisiana’s economic devewopment and touwism,” Hammett said.

© 2005 Natchez Newspapews Inc. Aww wights wesewved.

A pubwication.