CMR permanently removes Walker as director
Sun Herald
By MICHAEL NEWSOM — mmnewsom@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- The Commission on Marine Resources has permanently removed Dr.
Bill Walker from his position of executive director of the Department of
Marine Resources.
The commission voted unanimously on the motion to remove, which was made by
Commissioner Jimmy Taylor.
Chairman Vernon Asper said the commission had put its trust in Walker and
were "heartbroken" about all that has happened. Asper said the commission
had reached a point where there was sufficient evidence to remove Walker.
SunHerald.com will update this story as more details emerge from the
meeting.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/15/4407322/cmr-permanently-removes-walker.html
Bill Walker fired as Director of Department of Marine Resources
Mississippi Press
By Warren Kulo | GulfLive.com
January 15, 2013 at 9:34 AM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- Bill Walker has been fired as Executive Director of
the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
Walker's tenure with the DMR was terminated by a unanimous vote of the
Commission on Marine Resources during its monthly meeting Tuesday morning.
CMR Vice-Chairman Jimmy Taylor made the motion to terminate Walker "for
cause." There was no additional discussion prior to the vote.
"In light of continuing information received by the commission, I believe
the commission has received sufficient information to terminate with cause
the employment of Dr. Walker," Taylor said just before making the motion to
dismiss Walker.
Before Taylor spoke and made his motion, CMR Chairman Vernon Asper
commented on the allegations made against Walker and the DMR.
"We are as distressed about these allegations as everyone else is," Asper
said. "I can promise you, we are going to pay more attention to everything
that goes on in the department.
"It's hard when you have someone you trust explicitly and they let you
down," Asper continued, although never mentioning Walker by name. "In this
case, we gave a person free reign. We are aggreived at the allegations
which have been made."
Walker was suspended without pay on Dec. 28 after a three-hour executive
session by the CMR. He was not in attendance for Tuesday's meeting.
Immediately after the vote to terminate Walker, Taylor left the meeting,
although the CMR had more business to take up.
Walker, who was appointed head of the DMR in 2002 by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove,
has come under fire in recent months -- first from a preliminary report in
a federal audit which questioned funds spent on land purchases made through
a federal program funded by offshore money. The report found the department
paid far more in most cases than the estimated value of the properties.
More recently, the DMR has come under scrutiny by the Gulfport-based Sun
Herald, which has reported friends, relatives and local officials have been
hired by the DMR for contract work. The Sun Herald also questioned $1.46
million the department has spent since 2007 to lease two recreational
fishing boats from a foundation meant to support the department. Walker
manages the foundation.
Walker had previously announced his intention to retire at the end of June.
Asper said the commission will immediately begin the process of replacing
Walker. The CMR is required to submit three candidates for the director's
post to Gov. Phil Bryant for consideration.
Deputy Director Danny Guice Jr. has been serving as interim director since
Walker's suspension.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/bill_walker_fired_as_director.html#incart_river_default
