December 3, 2003

Contact: Linda Krop: (805) 963-1622; Cameron Benson: (805) 637-9944

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Santa Barbara, CA - The Environmental Defense Center announced today that it has hired local environmental attorney Cameron Benson as Executive Director. A UCSB graduate with broad expertise in environmental law and policy, Benson has been an active member of our community for twenty years. He has taught environmental education classes to local students, practiced non-profit environmental law with the EDC, served as Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson's District Director, and provided consulting services for local and national environmental organizations. Throughout his career, Cameron Benson has proven to be a strong and effective advocate for environmental protection. He will begin as EDC's Executive Director in January 2004. EDC's current Executive Director, Linda Krop, will remain as Chief Counsel.

"I am honored and thrilled to have this opportunity," declared Benson. "EDC's dedicated staff and Board of Directors are deeply committed to protecting and enhancing our community's quality of life. We will all be focused on improving local air and water quality, protecting our remaining open spaces, and striving for an environment free of toxic chemicals and pesticides," Benson continued. "I am particularly proud of EDC's efforts to save the Ellwood mesa, clean up and restore Mission Creek, prevent additional offshore oil drilling, and protect children from exposure to pesticides in parks and schools."

"Cameron is intimately familiar with the organization and the issues that matter most to this community," said incoming EDC Board President Alana Walzcek. "He will provide an essential link between EDC and the local supporters who are critical to the organization's success," continued Walzcek, noting that EDC is completely funded through private donations and receives no government assistance.

The Central Coast faces many serious environmental challenges. EDC is uniquely suited to solve those complex problems because it possesses and utilizes a broad range of tools - from education to advocacy and, when necessary, litigation. Since 1977, EDC has been serving California's Central Coast as the only non-profit environmental law firm between Los Angeles and San Francisco, assisting other environmental and community groups with their efforts to protect our cherished quality of life.

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