Ohio's Speck on U.S.-Canada panel

5/14/2008

WASHINGTON - Ohio's Sam Speck has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the International Joint Commission, a binational government panel that the United States and Canada have entrusted for nearly a century on policy matters affecting the Great Lakes and other boundary waters.

Mr. Speck served as Ohio Department of Natural Resources director during both terms of former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft.

He has served in both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly and is a former president of Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio.

He also was an associate director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under former President Ronald Reagan.

Mr. Speck was appointed to the International Joint Commission by President Bush, pending Senate confirmation.

The United States and Canada both have three IJC commissioners.

The vacancy was created by the White House's decision last July to fire Dennis Schornack, the former chairman of the IJC's U.S. section.