Pat Perno Chair - Commissioner, Lynn Haven

Commissioner Pat Perno, one of the original members of the SASJBEP Policy Board, has been a dedicated supporter of the program’s goals and the long-term health of our bays and watersheds since the program’s inception. He credits his initial involvement to Dr. Irvin Clark’s encouragement and vision and was honored to be the first Lynn Haven Commissioner serve on the Policy Board. Commissioner Perno described the opportunity as “a rare chance to help create something from scratch that will exist for decades to come, which doesn’t come around every day.”

Perno’s commitment to the Bays and watershed is rooted in his own experience. Having grown up near the Indian River Lagoon, he witnessed a decline over time, which made a lasting impression. “When you watch a watershed fail, it stays with you,” he reflects. “It makes you appreciate how important it is to protect what we have before it’s gone.”

He values bringing people together and leading with care and sees the Estuary Program as an opportunity to represent “not just Lynn Haven, but the entire watershed’s needs, which is bigger than one community”. He is especially interested in advancing regional stormwater projects and supporting Lynn Haven’s effort to relocate the wastewater treatment plant away from the water’s edge to improve long-term resilience. One message he hopes more people will take to heart is the fragility of our bays: “What we see today could easily disappear and we can’t take these waters for granted.”

Commissioner Perno’s favorite places around the Bay are close to home, especially anywhere along North Bay and when he isn’t running his business or at City Hall, you’ll likely find him enjoying a round of golf.