Good Guy To Head Texas Parks & Wildlife

Carter Smith, formerly of the Texas Nature Conservancy and, as of yesterday, executive director of TPW, dropped by our offices a couple of weeks ago to brief editors on the huge challenges facing the state in preserving our natural environment. His two biggest worries? Number one is The Fence, imposed on us by a hysterical Congress in Washington that has no concept of the terrain, the fauna, the migration patterns, and the human interaction between Mexico and Texas. Number two is the sudden enthusiasm for windmills and the dangers they create for the natural habitat. Carter reflects the philosophy of the Conservancy, more interested in negotiation than confrontation and eager to enlist the free market in addressing conservation issues. That approach has won Carter a lot of victories in his years with the Conservancy–and a lot of friends. He’s a great choice.