NOMINEE REQUIRING SENATE CONFIRMATION
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT BACKGROUND SUMMARY
NOMINEE: Mark Brnovich
POSITION: Arizona State Parks Board, Public Member
REPLACING: Tracy Jo Westerhausen
APPOINTING GOVERNOR: Janice K. Brewer
DATE OF APPOINTMENT: January 11, 2013
TERM ENDS: January 21, 2019
FUNCTION OF THE STATE PARKS BOARD:
The Arizona State Parks Board (Board) consists of seven members, including the State Land Commissioner, each of whom must be a resident of Arizona. Members are selected based on their knowledge of and interest in outdoor activities, multiple use of lands, archaeology, natural resources and value of historical aspects of Arizona and the conservation of natural resources. Statute prescribes that at least one member must be a representative of the livestock industry, one must be professionally engaged in general recreation work and one must be professionally engaged in the tourism industry. Members are appointed to six-year staggered terms (A.R.S. § 41-511).
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR POSITION:
The Board was established by the Legislature in 1957. Among its responsibilities, the Board operates and maintains all of Arizona’s state parks, natural areas and historic and cultural areas. The Board manages 28 parks through ownership, leases and management agreements.
The Board must select areas of scenic beauty, natural features and historical properties now owned by the state, except properties in the care and custody of other agencies, or as established by law, for management, operation and further development as state parks and historical monuments. The Board is required to investigate privately and federally owned land and lands owned by the state to determine which tracts should be set aside and dedicated for use as state parks, monuments or trails, and the Board may enter into agreements with the United States, other states or local government units, private entities or persons for the development and protection of state parks, monuments and trails.
The Board is also required to plan, coordinate and administer a state historic preservation program and maintain an Arizona Register of Historic Places composed of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant to this state’s history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture. The Board is authorized to grant public monies for the acquisition of state trust lands for conservation purposes (A.R.S. § 41-511.04).
CURRENT MEMBERSHIP AND TERM EXPIRATIONS:
*Vanessa Hickman (State Land Commissioner)
*Mark Brnovich 01/21/2019
*Richard J. Cardin, Jr. 01/16/2017
Larry Landry 01/20/2014
Walter D. Armer, Jr. 01/20/2015
Alan Everett 01/18/2016
Janet Kay Daggett 1/15/2018
*Pending Confirmation
SALARY OR OTHER COMPENSATION:
Board members serve without compensation but are entitled to claim the transportation costs of attending Board meetings (A.R.S. 41-511.05).
BUDGET AND FTES:
For FY 2013, the Board is appropriated an operating budget of $10,451,800 and 127.2 FTEs
NOMINEE’S QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
University of San Diego, J.D.
Arizona State University, B.S. Political Science
Employment:
Arizona Department of Gaming, Phoenix, AZ, Director 2009-Current
United States Department of Justice, Phoenix, AZ, 2007-2009
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Corrections Corporation of America, Phoenix, AZ, 2005-2007
Private Prison Provider, Sr. Director
Goldwater Institute, Phoenix, AZ, Director, 2003-2005
Center for Constitutional Government
Arizona Attorney General, Phoenix, AZ, Assistant Attorney General 1998-2003
Other Qualifications:
Admitted to Practice in Arizona, California, U.S. Federal District Court for Arizona, and United States Supreme Court
Former member of the Latino Peace Officer’s Association
Current member of the Federalist Society, Arizona Lawyers Chapter, Executive Committee
Natural Resources & Rural Affairs
February 15, 2013