The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that former state assemblyman John Laird is expected to be named by Governor Jerry Brown to head the state Natural Resouces Agency.

The agency manages parks, fish and game, forestry and fire protection, and water resources.

Laird was defeated in an August 2010 special election to fill then-Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado's central coast state senate seat.

State Senator Sam Blakeslee, who won the election, issued a statement Jan. 2 offering Laird his congratulations if the speculation about the appointment is true.

"In the four years we served together in the Assembly, John and I found much common ground in the areas of conservation and environmental protection. Although our approaches have sometimes differed, I expect that John and I would again forge a good working relationship as we each continue our efforts to advance environmental protection,"