July 27, 2007
Hassett quits DNR
By Todd Richmond
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – After years of battling chronic wasting disease, navigating partisan politics and trying to win back outdoorsmen’s trust, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Hassett has resigned.
Gov. Jim Doyle announced Friday, July 20 that Corrections Secretary Matt Frank will replace Hassett. Deputy Corrections Secretary Rick Raemisch will move into the top spot in the state’s prison system. Hassett wrote his resignation letter Monday, July 16.
Doyle, who appointed Hassett in 2003, said in a statement Hassett wanted to leave so he could “write, travel and consult on environmental and regulatory issues.”
Hassett said he’d been pondering quitting for nearly a month. He declined to say why, but called the job “pretty fast-paced” and not something he planned to do forever.
“I’m just going to hold my thoughts to myself for a while,” Hassett said. “We’ve done some great things together, the governor and I and this administration.”
He said he wasn’t sure what he’d do next, except go bow hunting and musky fishing a lot more.
© 2007 Outdoors Weekly Corporation