In a statement released yesterday afternoon, Governor Charlie Crist endorsed the selection of Audubon of Florida Chair John Hankinson to lead the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force.

Statement by Governor Charlie Crist:

“I am pleased to see the selection of John H. Hankinson Jr. as the executive director of the task force focused on restoring the Gulf after the oil spill. As a Floridian with many years of experience working on environmental issues, John understands the strong link between Florida’s economy and the Gulf, especially for our tourism and seafood industries. Nothing is more important to Florida’s future than cleaning up any oil that remains in the Gulf of Mexico."