The Conservation Coalition of Washington has obtained public records revealing deep involvement by Jody Allen–funded organizations in shaping appointments to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Commission.
Records show that leadership from Animal & Earth Advocates and Washington Wildlife First—both founded by Claire Loebs Davis—participated in teleconference meetings with Governor Jay Inslee, where commissioner candidates and advocacy for specific appointments were key discussion points. One meeting agenda highlights that former commissioner Tim Ragen and current commissioners John Lehmkuhl and Melanie Rowland were recommended during a meeting with Inslee.
Email records indicate that leadership from these organizations interviewed candidates, communicated their preferences to the Governor’s office, and even spoke with the Governor’s Natural Resources Advisor about Melanie Rowland before her application was submitted.
As we previously exposed, an internal spreadsheet from Washington Wildlife First show they had listed themselves as a source for current commissioner Woody Myers, were familiar with his wife Madonna, and used his input as source regarding other candidates.
The extensive correspondence and meetings between these group’s leadership and former Natural Resources Advisors JT Austin and Ruth Musgrave, combined with the alignment between their recommendations and final appointments, suggest that these organizations have played a major role in shaping the current WDFW Commission—and, by extension, the policies that have followed.
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⚠️ Disclaimer:
This content and accompanying cartoon are not intended to suggest that anti-hunting leadership provided money to Governor Jay Inslee for these selections. Rather, they reflect that these non-profits are well funded- ie WW1 and Animal and Earth Advocates are financially backed by Jody Allen’s philanthropic nonprofit, Wild Lives Foundation.
