Russ Harding, the former head of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and current director of the Mackinac Center’s Property Rights Network, will be the featured speaker at the May meeting of the Republican Women of Leelanau County.

The luncheon meeting will be held Monday, May 12 at the Leland Lodge, beginning at 11:30 a.m. He will speak on the topic, “Impact of Environmental Policy on Michigan Economy.”

The Property Rights Network is an initiative launched in 2007 to elevate public awareness of property rights, encourage policymakers to respect property rights, and organize Michigan property owners to an effective public coalition. In the three years prior to directing the network, Harding was the Mackinac Center’s senior environmental policy analyst.

From 1995 through 2002, Harding served as DEQ director and prior to that held senior management posts in environmental and energy affairs with a private consulting firm.

The public is invited, including men. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Arloa Edwards at 256-9374.