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Public health, community and clean air advocates oppose confirmation of Cynthia Tuck as Chair of Air Resources Board

CLCV and seven other groups, listed at right, have joined to oppose Cynthia Tuck's confirmation as Chair of the California Air Resources Board.

AIR BOARD HISTORY OF INDEPENDENT LEADERSHIP: California has a 40-year history of bipartisan agreement on the importance of strong, independent leadership at CARB. CARB Chairs have been committed to public health under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
TUCK’S INDUSTRY RECORD: Tuck has spent her career fighting tough California air pollution laws and regulations—many of them the very laws that she would be charged with carrying out and enforcing as chair of the Air Resources Board.
REPRESENTING POLLUTERS: Tuck has represented the same industries she would be charged with regulating as chair of the Air Resources Board. This is a demonstrated conflict for the chief guardian of the State’s air quality and public health.
CALIFORNIA AIR QUALITY LEADERSHIP THREATENED: The Air Resources Board is the nation’s—some say the world’s—premier air quality agency. The Board has developed, implemented and enforced dozens of cutting-edge strategies to reduce air pollution and protect public health. Innovations that start here set the pace for the nation. The chair’s independence, leadership, and commitment to protecting public health have been critical to this success.
TOUGH DECISIONS REQUIRE ABILITY TO STAND UP TO INDUSTRY: California needs a Chair of the Air Resources Board who can make the tough decisions needed to require air pollution controls on a wide of pollution sources—from diesel engines to vehicles to refineries to power plants and more—a chair who can push the State toward the Governor’s goal of a 50 percent reduction in air pollution, and who will make certain that all parts of the business community, including agriculture, energy and oil industries, are doing their fair share to protect public health. We do not believe Ms. Tuck is the appropriate person for this position.