Mar 20, 2007 — The man Governor Spitzer named to lead New York's Department of Environmental Conservation will finally get a hearing today. Assemblyman Pete Grannis, from New York City, needs confirmation by the state Senate. The process has been caught up in the escalating political battle between Spitzer, a Democrat, and Republican Senate majority leader Joe Bruno. But after weeks of delay, confirmation hearings are scheduled to get underway this morning in the Senate Environmental Conservation committee. Grannis has been praised by environmental groups, including the Adirondack Council and the Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks. But he's been criticized by many hunters and sportsmen. This week, the Essex County Fish and Game League announced that its members have voted to oppose Grannis's confirmation. Brian Mann spoke with Pete Grannis recently about his qualifications, about his vision for the DEC, and about the controversy surrounding his appointment.