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Hladick named Region 10 EPA administrator Delegation applauds selection; Walker will replace him at DCCED with former legislator, outgoing Kenai Borough Mayor Mike Navarre Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
Chris Hladick has been named by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt to serve as EPA Region 10 administrator.
Hladick is currently commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development and Gov. Bill Walker said Hladick will step down effective Nov. 1. The governor said Oct. 17 that he has appointed outgoing Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre as the department’s new commissioner.
Hladick, who has been DCCED commissioner since 2015, came to that role from Unalaska, where he served as city manager for more than a decade. Prior to that he was city manager in Dillingham and city manager and public works director in Galena.
In his new role, Hladick will oversee EPA administration in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
Alaska’s congressional delegation praised Hladick’s appointment.
“Chris is exactly what Alaska needs, an experienced administrator that will implement the law instead of furthering agendas,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in a statement. She cited his experience as commissioner at DCCED and as a city administrator in rural Alaska.
“He knows the issues our communities face when dealing with the EPA, from fishermen struggling with over burdensome regulations to the need to ensure that Alaskans can reasonably comply with the agency’s environmental rules. His knowledge will be an asset as he works to create collaborative relationships between the Region X office and Alaska.”
Sen. Dan Sullivan said the state’s congressional delegation “has been relentlessly pushing to have an Alaskan” named as Region 10 administrator. “I’m pleased that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt worked closely with our offices to find a well-qualified candidate for this position.”
Sullivan cited Hladick’s “long history of working for Alaska. He understands how state and federal agencies intersect, and will be able to navigate the EPA’s rules and regulations in order to serve Alaska and other Region 10 states.”
“Chris Hladick knows first-hand the overbearing nature of the previous administration’s EPA; helping lead a challenge against them while service as city manager of Unalaska,” said Congressman Don Young. “Having lived in and managed river and coastal communities across rural Alaska for many years, Chris understands the many challenges our residents face when dealing with government agencies, particularly the EPA,” he said.
Navarre named commissioner In naming Navarre as the new DCCED commissioner, Walker said Navarre’s “thorough understanding of Alaska’s economy, the challenges we face, and the bright opportunities in our future will be of great benefit to our team and the state as we continue to push towards solving our fiscal crisis, and building a Stronger Alaska.”
Navarre is concluding his second consecutive term as mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, his third term overall. He has twice been president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors.
Navarre served in the Alaska House of Representatives for six terms, 1985-1996, and held multiple leadership positions including majority leader and chair of the Finance and Rules committees.
Navarre has more than 30 years of business experience in restaurant and retail operations throughout Alaska.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in government and a minor in economics from Eastern Washington University.
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