Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, has announced her resignation from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, to be replaced by Sen. Lisa Fobbe, DFL-Zimmerman.
Anderson notified the other 11 members on the council that "she has too many commitments this year" and was resigning for that reason.
Anderson was a founding member of the council, which recommends to the Legislature habitat and other conservation projects to be paid for out of the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF).
The OHF is an outgrowth of the Legacy Amendment passed by Minnesota voters in November 2008. The amendment raised the state sales tax fractionally to benefit fish, game and wildlife habitat, parks and trails, and the arts.
Anderson, a veteran legislator with a long track record in conservation matters, was considered by some hunting and angling groups to be less than supportive during the council's initial funding cycle. She advocated distribution of some OHF money, for instance, by geographic area throughout the state, rather than by conservation priority.
Since that time, amends generally have been made, and Anderson has been viewed favorably by most conservation groups, as well as her colleagues on the council.
"She did a good job," said Garry Leaf, executive director of Sportsmen for Change.
Fobbe is seen as a good replacement, Leaf said. She has a strong interest in hunting and fishing issues, as well as in conservation overall.
