WDFW Director Interviews: Final Three

[Bushcraft]

WDFW's Commissioners cut the 19 initial applicants down to 7 for individual interviews, and in turn pared them down to their final 3.  With few exceptions, their choices thus far have reeked of left-wing crony favoritism. 

In no particular order:

• Joe Stohr : WDFW Interim Director - He has been around the Department forever and in my estimation is a central figure that has flown under the radar of critique, but has actually been centrally endemic to the Department's many problems.  He has a distinct lack of appreciation for the input and guidance of hunters and anglers, and a shockingly high appreciation for that of anti-hunters and non-consumptive users that don't do a damn thing for fish and wildlife.  For crying out loud, the most worthless Director we've ever had (Unsworth) encouraged the Commissioners to appoint Stohr when he was shown the door on a 9-0 basis.  It takes a leader to recognize a leader.  How good could Stohr be given Unsworth's embarrassingly dismal choices and leadership?
• Kelly Susewind : WA State Dept. of Ecology, Director of Administrative Services & Environmental Policy - My sources have indicated to me that he is a fair-minded guy that gets stuff done, sometimes in an efficient manner to the chagrine of those that would just as soon adhere to the senseless status quo of bureaucratic waste.  He may have a steep learning curve ahead of him.
• Jennifer Quan : Branch Chief at NOAA Fisheries - This last one is one of two applicants that Sleepy Jay Inslee has been pushing hard simply because - in the name of Diversity and Inclusion, he wants XX chromosomes in the Director's office.  All the more reason for the Commission to have immediately round-filed her application.  This leadership position should be filled based on merit and merit alone, not what's hanging or not between someone's legs.  For a variety of reasons I can't/won't go into now, she'll likely not be offered the job anyway, otherwise all hell will break loose.

With one exception, this "final three" list of applicants is ridiculous.

Inslee and WDFW have been frustrated, surprised, road-blocked and embarassed numerous times by influential sportsmen groups and legislators on both sides of the aisle over the past few years.  They are seemingly oblivious to the perceived lack of appreciation they have for hunters and anglers.  WDFW is the laughing stock of all the western states' fish & wildlife departments and it all comes down to lack of competent leadership and lack of appreciation. We need to keep the pressure on the Department at all levels to do the right thing.  And, we need to keep pressure on our legislators to force the Department do the right thing. 

Thus far we've been playing nicely.  The Department, the Commission and Inslee will not know what hit them if they choose the wrong person for Director and we get pissed off enough to finally take off the gloves.  These last few years will seem like the good ol' days in comparison.

I encourage you all to do your research on these applicants and reach out to your Commissioners and Legislators with your opinion(s) on the matter.

Perhaps go so far as to ask that the application period to be re-opened and the ENTIRETY of the Commission be involved in both the pre-screening as well as the applicant interviews, not just a minority of 4 Commissioners.  There's no rationale reason why 4 arbitrarily chosen people (most of whom have never run so much as a coffee stand) should get to decide who gets interviewed, or not, for such a pivotally important position that's responsible for a $430MM+ budget, 1500 employees and all of our fish and wildlife.

[teanawayslayer]

I think they all suck!!!!!

[mulehunter]

I think they all suck!!!!!

 

[nwwanderer]

Any info on the three finalists?

[bearpaw]

It's obvious that not many qualified people must want the job! 

[Bob33]

It's obvious that not many qualified people must want the job! 

It's hard to imagine a qualified and sane person wanting the position. You are despised by a significant portion of your constituency.

[bearpaw]

It's obvious that not many qualified people must want the job! 

It's hard to imagine a qualified and sane person wanting the position. You are despised by a significant portion of your constituency.

I'm guessing you didn't apply! 

[RB]

Just for the heck of it I'll throw my two cents in, I have witnessed hirings such as this in the past and this is what I have learned. When a hiring firm, or group is involved there is usually one candidate that is an obvious no, one that seems ok and one that looks better than the rest.

The problem is the one that looks good is not necessarily good. Kinda like the beauty pageant couple ugly ones, a couple decent ones and one that is better looking than the rest, until they open their mouth and try to do some work. Lets hope the one that gets picked can help the sportsman as well as our fish and game! 

[KFhunter]

hiring firms want high success rates at filling slots, makes since, thanks RB