Former Gov. Buddy MacKay (JD 61), center, and his wife Anne speak Feb. 12 to UF Levin College of Law Professor Jon Mills (JD 72), UF Law students Vivek Babbar (3L), LL.M. candidate Alexis Segal and Chelsea Sims (3L) during a fundraiser for a UF Law environmental fellowship. The fundraiser was held at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in downtown Orlando. (Photo by Richard Goldstein)

By Richard Goldstein

At the behest of a who’s who of Florida politicians, the foyer of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in downtown Orlando was packed with 70 people for an evening fundraiser.

The crowd gathered on behalf of UF Law students and in honor of the “defender of the Everglades.” Friends and colleagues said Thom Rumberger devoted much of his career fighting on behalf of the Florida environment.

Former Gov. Buddy MacKay (JD 61) and his wife Anne mingled in the crowd Feb. 12, and MacKay, who was Rumberger’ UF Law schoolmate, was just one of several prominent figures lending their names to the goal of raising $300,000 for environmental law scholarships. Others include former Gov. Charlie Crist, former Attorney General Bill McCollum (JD 68), former Comptroller and gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

The law firm and UF Law are spearheading the drive to endow the E. Thom Rumberger Everglades Foundation Fellowship Program.

“This fellowship celebrates three of Thom’s favorite passions: The Everglades, the University of Florida Law School and the law itself,” Frank Sheppard, managing partner of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, told the crowd.

Jon Mills (JD 72), a UF Law professor and director of the Center for Governmental Responsibility, worked with Rumberger on landmark environmental and constitutional cases.

“We’re going to have a permanent legacy of students who represent the kind of principled commitment and integrity that Thom Rumberger represented,” Mills said. “So exhibits one, two and three, please step forward.”

UF Law students Chelsea Sims (3L), Vivic Babar (3L) and LL.M. student Alexis Segal squeezed to the front of the room. These are the type of students who will benefit from the fellowship, Mills said.

Sims, from Bevard County, is working on a Conservation Clinic project securing permits to salvage tires damaging endangered corals off the coast of Fort Lauderdale.

Babar, from Lake Mary, works with UF Law Conservation Clinic clients drafting legislation for a noticed general permit for oyster reef restoration and who participated in UF Law’s three-week course on South Florida ecosystems in the Everglades.

Segal is seeking an LL.M. in environmental and land use law. She launched the Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper in January 2011. It’s a nonprofit devoted to protecting, conserving and enhancing the water quality of Biscayne Bay and its surrounding watershed. Segal is a Climate Institute Fellow who works with the UF Law Conservation Clinic to assist a Bahamian nonprofit to establish a marine reserve zone and research facility in Long Island, Bahamas.

“What this fellowship will do is create the opportunity for students to work in the public interest areas, Everglades restoration in particular … in order to build a career,” explained UF Law Dean Robert Jerry. “I promise you that we will use your investment in this fellowship most wisely and the future returns on this investment will be wonderful.”

Eric Eikenberg, executive director of the Everglades Foundation, noted Rumberger’s long involvement with environmental conservation and encouraged everyone in the room to call elected representatives on behalf of pro-Everglades environmental policy.

“We need to ensure that in these tight budget times the commitment to conservation remains strong,” Eikenberg said.

Debbie Rumberger called the scholarship an apt send off for her late husband.

“This is such a fitting legacy for him and on behalf of the family,” she said. “I want to thank you from the bottom of our heart.”

To donate to the E. Thom Rumberger Everglades Foundation Fellowship Program go to www.uff.ufl.edu/appeals/Rumberger.

From left, Gov. Reubin Askew, Gov. Bob Graham, Gov. Bob Martinez, Gov. Buddy MacKay, moderator UF Law alum Ben Diamond (JD 03), and Gov. Charlie Crist engaged in a discussion Oct. 12 at UF for the Allen L. Poucher Legal Education Series. (Photo by Marcela Suter)

By Matt Walker
Senior writer

Florida’s environment, education, economic development and growth management were the primary topics of conversation on Friday, Oct. 12, when five former Florida governors convened at the Phillips Center for the Florida Law Review’s Allen L. Poucher Legal Education Series.

The panel discussion, “Florida’s Future: A Conversation with Florida Governors,” featured Govs. Reubin Askew, Charlie Crist, Bob Graham, Buddy MacKay and Bob Martinez. The discussion was moderated by UF Law alum Ben Diamond (JD 03). The conversation was based on student-submitted questions and centered on what the governors viewed as the most important issues facing the Sunshine State today.

The governors reminisced and joked amicably while trading stories about their time in office and noted that many of the same issues they were dealing with as long as 40 years ago are currently facing Florida.

Graham said that during his time in office he tried to focus on three key issues: economic development, the environment and education.

“With a state moving as rapidly as Florida, we need to be thinking not just to the next election or the next decade, but for the next generations,” Graham said, “and the way in which we do that most fundamentally is an investment in education.”

Graham said the spirit of today tends to not look at the big picture, not just in education, but in many areas including the environment.

“We’re more focused on avoiding having to make any sacrifices today, regardless of what sacrifices we’re going to have to impose in the future,” he said.

Diamond guided the nearly two-hour conversation, asking the governors questions about their time in office, growth management in Florida and water and environmental issues.

The governors agreed that a mindfulness of water management and the environment in Florida are among the most crucial issues facing Florida’s future. And Crist, who was governor during the 2010 BP oil spill, pointed out the lessons that can be learned from the incident.

“What did we learn from the spill? Well, I think No. 1, the last thing you ever want to do is drill off the coast of Florida,” Crist said. “I think the greatest wakeup call of all time, in terms of how sensitive Florida is and how dependent we are on tourism as a very important part of our economy, was evidenced by the BP oil spill.”

The governors also took questions from students in the audience in which they addressed taxes on Internet goods, the importance of energy independence and voter fraud.

The Allen L. Poucher Legal Education Series was established by Betty K. Poucher in honor of her late husband, Allen L. Poucher Sr. A humanitarian who lived a life dedicated to service, Allen Poucher graduated from UF Law in 1942 and practiced law for more than 60 years. The Poucher Legal Education Series seeks to provide a venue for prominent legal, political and business leaders to discuss important issues facing our nation and world today.

The webcast of the Poucher Lecture can be viewed here, http://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/2c771f2f72644e6cb990d67455080bf51d.

This year’s conference — “It’s Not Easy Being Green: Our Energy Future” — will focus on renewable and non-renewable sources of energy; how that energy is distributed and its relationship to economic development, environmental protection and social justice.

The keynote speakers at the conference will be Buddy MacKay, a former Florida governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. representative and state legislator, and Princeton University Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Robert Socolow — an expert on global energy resources and climate change mitigation, and a pioneer in environmental studies.

The conference will feature a wide variety of panels dealing with various energy-related topics, including the 2010 Gulf oil spill and the licensing of new nuclear power plants in Florida. Guest panelists will range from representatives of government agencies and public interest organizations to international scholars and industry experts. Two Saturday morning workshops will focus on green jobs and what endangered species laws mean to the average homeowner.

The Public Interest Environmental Conference provides a forum for an exchange of ideas among private, government, and public interest lawyers; students and academics; environmental professionals, advocates and activists, and the interested public.

Media are welcome to attend the conference, but must register to attend Friday’s banquet, which is filling up fast. Registration will also be accepted at the conference on Thursday and Friday. For more information, agenda and to register, visit http://www.law.ufl.edu/piec/.

The conference is free for all UF students, faculty, and staff.