Help us find outstanding potential WDFW Commissioners!

[WWC]

WWC is seeking help in identifying, vetting and recruiting potential commissioners. 2 RCW's describe requirements, additionally some notable trends of quality nominations have existed. Commissioners have come from business owners in the hunting and fishing industry, retired biologists, lawyers, and other technical professionals that have experience working in large organizations. The Governor, who makes the appointments, has expressed concern for the lack of diversity on the commission. A great example of the kind of commissioner we would love to find is Fred Shiosaki. Appointed in 99 by Gov Locke, a veteran, chemist, and avid fly fisherman. We want commissioners that understand the issues, embrace hunting and fishing heritage, and come from all walks of life. We want those folks, that the current governor would have a hard time saying NO to! Sportsmen must be vigilant in finding and recruiting great potential commissioners.
Please send suggestions, pertinent background information, contact information, and how they embrace our sporting heritage to wwc_bod@gmail.com

RCW 77.04.030
Commission—Appointment.
The fish and wildlife commission consists of nine registered voters of the state. In January of each odd-numbered year, the governor shall appoint with the advice and consent of the senate three registered voters to the commission to serve for terms of six years from that January or until their successors are appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs on the commission prior to the expiration of a term, the governor shall appoint a registered voter within sixty days to complete the term. Three members shall be residents of that portion of the state lying east of the summit of the Cascade mountains, and three shall be residents of that portion of the state lying west of the summit of the Cascade mountains. Three additional members shall be appointed at large. No two members may be residents of the same county. The legal office of the commission is at the administrative office of the department in Olympia.


RCW 77.04.040
Commission—Qualifications of members.
Persons eligible for appointment as members of the commission shall have general knowledge of the habits and distribution of fish and wildlife and shall not hold another state, county, or municipal elective or appointive office. In making these appointments, the governor shall seek to maintain a balance reflecting all aspects of fish and wildlife, including representation recommended by organized groups representing sportfishers, commercial fishers, hunters, private landowners, and environmentalists.

[pianoman9701]

Will input from us make any difference with Inslee and his love for animal rights activists? I've been active vocally and physically over the last 20 years with the WDFW and I don't feel like my personal input has had any positive effect at all.

[MeepDog]

I vote pianoman for commissioner

[WWC]

Will input from us make any difference with Inslee and his love for animal rights activists? I've been active vocally and physically over the last 20 years with the WDFW and I don't feel like my personal input has had any positive effect at all.

The animal rights crowd is fully prepared to pounce when the opportunity arises. At our last Bord of Directors meeting we discussed the need to find suitable candidates. Traditionally a quick search is done to find candidates. Finding a potential Comissioner that is pro hunting and fishing that is hard for the Govenor to turn down requires a more extensive search. It is possible that a GREAT choice would need to be courted taking extra time.

This effort to find and recruit is part of our renewed effort to be vigilant in protecting our hunting heritage. Extra effort is required with a Govenor with his current inclinations.

[dwils233]

The RCW about commission appointment indicates that the recommendations need to come from "organized groups" so individual campaigns probably aren't considered, that's why it's important to work through conservation orgs to find candidates and for orgs to work together to push those names in the gov office. I hope WWC, if they get strong candidates, will be in touch with other state and national orgs to create a blanket of endorsements together that's hard to ignore. Also key is going to be seeing if we can get support for such candidates from timber & ag groups but they never seem to flex as much muscle as they could.

Just to add my  keep in mind that some of our best commissioners right now aren't hunters or anglers, they just respect the NACM and our collective impact for wildlife and role in the mission. Good candidates don't have to be hunters, they just have to be willing to understand and respect us.

I don't know how many people understand how challenging it is to find a good commissioner. Between the politics, workload, location restrictions and just the will to put up with it for no compensation, it's incredibly hard unless they are just pushing an agenda

[Special T]

I did not know who Fred Shiosaki was so I looked him up. Sounds like the kind of guy we could all respect.

https://nwasianweekly.com/2021/05/remembering-fred-shiosaki/

[Onewhohikes]

The Governor, who makes the appointments, has expressed concern for the lack of diversity on the commission.
This statement is totally in accurate!! The governor never appointed the last few commissioners per the WAC why would he start now. He is going to do what he wants and that is to place anti hunting and fishing commissioners on the board. Plain and simple.

[pianoman9701]

Don Benton, a former state senator and running for Clark County commissioner, has been a proponent of sportsmen and has spoken on my behalf regarding the senate confirmations of several commissioners. He's not a favorite of Dimslee, however.

[Gringo31]

P-Man needs to "identify" a little differently and we got a chance!   

[buckfvr]

Absolutely no one contrary to the current agenda will ever be appointed to the commission.  Focus and effort to replace the governor and current agenda, then change can happen on the commission.   

This one is squarely on the govs shoulders.

[GASoline71]

Just to add my  keep in mind that some of our best commissioners right now aren't hunters or anglers, they just respect the NACM and our collective impact for wildlife and role in the mission. Good candidates don't have to be hunters, they just have to be willing to understand and respect us.

I don't know how many people understand how challenging it is to find a good commissioner. Between the politics, workload, location restrictions and just the will to put up with it for no compensation, it's incredibly hard unless they are just pushing an agenda

Kim Thorburn is a great example of this exact statement.  She has reacted many times in our favor during discussions with the anti-hunting agenda commissioners.

Gary

[pianoman9701]

P-Man needs to "identify" a little differently and we got a chance!   

I'm actually African-American. The commission is pretty white at this point.

[509]

I am a LATINO by birth.  Even have a passport and birth certificate to prove it.

Unfortunately, I am Latino by birth with European parents and do not meet the political orientation of the people in power.

So yep,  I lost jobs to blue-eyed, blond haired "latino's" with rich parents that have lived in the United States for over a hundred years.

I guess since I did not "identify" as Latino it was ok to pick somebody that was not Latino but identified as such.

You need to identify as a liberal environmentalist to get appointed by Inslee.

[callturner]

If you want a good commission the first thing you have to do is get rid of Jay Inslee and Bob Fergason. Washington has never had a decent game commission that I can remember. But this is one of the worst. I see some of the poorest decisions being made now more than ever. None of these people care about game management. Start at the top and build down.