Let’s all raise a Smokey Bear salute to former Oklahoma State Forester Mark Goeller.
A national expert on enhanced wildfire prediction and response coordination, he was fired by Governor Stitt last week after a 40-year career—apparently for not doing enough to protect Stitt’s hobby farm from burning to the ground during the wildfire outbreak that rolled through the state a few weeks ago.
Yep, that’s right.
As retribution for not dedicating as many state resources as possible to prioritize and protect the Governor’s personal property during a historic wildfire outbreak—one fueled by a deadly and destructive blend of dry air, drought-like conditions, and powerful howling winds—Stitt fired our state’s nationally recognized forestry director.
Well, at least that’s what I and just about everyone else who’s not banned from mortgage banking in Georgia can safely assume after six-plus years of watching our bitter, passive-aggressive, Trump-wannabe Governor in action.
The official company line is that Stitt fired Goeller—a widely respected public servant who has dedicated his life and career to forestry management—because he didn’t do a good job.