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Former Chair of Wisconsin's Natural Resources Board Resigning

Tuesday, December 27th, 2022 -- 8:01 AM

(By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) The embattled former chair of Wisconsin’s Natural Resources Board said he’s resigning after refusing to step down at the end of his term for more than a year.

According to Danielle Kaeding with Wisconsin Public Radio, Dr. Fred Prehn, a Wausau dentist and businessman, said he intends to leave the board on Dec. 30. In a letter obtained from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ office, Prehn wrote he always said he would vacate his seat when the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed his replacement.

Evers appointed Sandy Naas, a conservationist from Ashland County, to the board in April last year. So far, GOP lawmakers have refused to confirm her. "It is time for the state legislators to act on Governor Evers' nomination as soon as practical and it is now time for me to move on," Prehn wrote. Evers’ spokesperson Britt Cudaback declined to comment on Prehn’s resignation.

"I am pleased that Dr. Prehn has decided to do the right thing and step down from his position on the Natural Resources Board, and I’m looking forward to the state senate getting back to performing its constitutional duty of taking up the governor’s appointees for a vote," Democratic Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard said in a statement. "With the highly qualified individuals Governor Evers has put forward for the Natural Resources Board, I am hopeful this can be done in a bipartisan manner."

Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker appointed Prehn to the board in 2015. His term expired in May of 2021, but he had refused calls to step down. Prehn’s decision to stay had ensured conservatives would continue to hold a 4-3 majority of Walker appointees on the board that decides environmental policies, including standards recently enacted for PFAS in drinking and surface waters.

Earlier this month, Prehn took part in a unanimous vote to once again begin crafting PFAS standards in groundwater after the board rejected setting limits for groundwater in February. Text messages released this fall showed that Prehn sought to maintain conservative control of the board.

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