Vacant west and East position

[mulehunter]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/members.html

Got info. its about concerning the WDFW commission vacant positions. Sounds like one more time the WDFW has slid something else by it's residents.

 "Vacant (Eastern Washington position)

Vacant (Western Washington position)" If you said what is this? It is the two WDFW commissioner positions that are vacant! Vacant positions that may have been filled with responsible mindsets who could have buried the pro-wolf based wolf plan in Washington State!!!

[wraithen]

When did this happen? 

[mulehunter]

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.

[mulehunter]

When did this happen? 

I will find out.

[GrainfedMuley]

HHmmmmmmmmm........can you say cover up?

[mulehunter]

Just want to pass it to you all from buddy.  We need to stop the vote.  Write letter.

 To those who don't already know the WDFW (Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife) passed a Wolf Management Plan ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00001/wdfw00001.pdf ) on Saturday Dec 3rd 2011 which many believe is a death sentence to WA State's big game herds and will be very devestating to the ranching community.

Also there seems to be a bit of an oops in the way of our beloved Gov. Gregoire has followed the WA State code (RCW 77.04.030 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx? cite=77.04.030 ) which deals with the appointment and number of commissioners for the WDFW. The code states that there will be a 9 member commission in charge of the WDFW and it's director and there happens to be only 7 currently in place (shows the two vacant positions http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/members.html ).

Having said all of that, this letter to the Washington State Attorney General was in my opinion my best option to voice disapproval to all of this-

[mulehunter]

Asked him to show u people what we can change.  Here his letter.



 Dear Attorney General McKenna,

In the past week the WDFW Commission voted on and passed the states wolf management plan (Dec. 3rd, 2011). This plan had been in process for 5 plus years and had a 17 member advisory panel (The Wolf Working Group as it was known). My problem comes to the fact that the WDFW Commission by law is said to have 9 registered voters as members per RCW 77.04.030. According to the WDFW website/commissioner page http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/members.html there are only 7 filled positions.

I may be off based in my assumption of RCW 77.04.030 but it states that these positions would be filled. How is it we can have a Dept. of Fish and Wildlife vote on a policy which may be as possibly devastating to our wildlife as the Boldt ruling was to our states fishing?

I realize the code states that it is the Governor is who appoints the commission and it is not the commissions fault for the vacant position but in following all the press releases that I could, not once was this discrepancy of the 2 vacant positions made public to be commented on. I only found this information by my own digging into WA code and online searches.

I would consider this as a complaint against the WDFW and the Governor for not following WA code RCW 77.04.030 and failing to give disclosure of the intent to not fill these vacant positions on the WDFW website.

If applicable I would also like the WDFW Wolf Management Plan to be put on hold until and investigation can be conducted and it's outcome made public. I don't believe any budgetary excuse for not following the law is acceptable.

Thank you for your time,

Rick

[jager]

Very nice! 
Anxiously awaiting a reply!

[Caseyd]

 

Get ready for a bumpy ride

[Special T]

Not really a surprise... Interested in finding out what his responce is.

[mulehunter]

I will keep you posted. 

[tjthebest]

What if that page just hasnt been updated yet?

[KillBilly]

Gentleman, those vacant positions have been posted on the commission site for some time now. Anyone of you could have applied as long as you met the requirements.


The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is comprised of nine citizen members, each appointed by the Governor. Commission appointees are subject to confirmation by the Senate.  Members are official upon appointment and serve as voting members while awaiting Senate confirmation.
Under current state law, the Commission must include three members from west of the Cascade Mountains, three members from east of the Cascade Mountains and three “at-large” members who may reside anywhere in the state. No two Commission members may reside in the same county (RCW 77.04.030).
Each commissioner is appointed to serve a six-year term. If a member resigns before the term expires, the Governor appoints a replacement within 60 days to complete the remainder of the term. Incumbent commissioners may be reappointed to serve additional terms if deemed appropriate by the Governor.

Commission members typically work two or three days a month attending public meetings, most of which take place in Olympia, and participating in telephone conference calls. Scheduled Commission meeting dates are listed on this website.

In addition to regular Commission meetings, each member serves on one or more Commission subcommittees, focusing in depth on individual fish and/or wildlife issues. These committees, each comprised of four Commission members working with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff, generally meet in conjunction with regular Commission meeting dates or via telephone conference call.

Commissioners are paid $100 per workday, and are reimbursed for travel expenses (meals, mileage, and lodging) in the same manner as state employees on work assignment. The Commission elects a new Chair and Vice Chair every other year.
If you are interested in serving on the Commission, visit the Governor’s Office website for more information and access to the on-line application tool at: http://www.governor.wa.gov/boards/default.asp or contact the Governor’s Boards and Commissions Office by telephone at (360) 902-4110.

[KillBilly]

Chair:
Miranda Wecker, Naselle
 (Western Washington position, Pacific County)
Occupation: Director of the Marine Program, UW Olympic Natural Resources Center
 Current Term: 01/01/2007 - 12/31/2012


Vice Chair:
 Gary Douvia, Kettle Falls
 (At-Large position, Ferry County)
Occupation: Financial consultant
 Current Term: 01/15/2007 - 12/31/2012

Commission Members:

David Jennings, Olympia
(At-Large position, Thurston County)
Occupation: Environmental public health
 Current Term: 06/18/2009 - 12/31/2014


 Conrad Mahnken, Ph.D., Bainbridge Island
 (At-Large position, Kitsap County)
Occupation: Retired, fisheries biologist
 Current Term: 01/01/2011 - 12/31/2016


 Chuck Perry, Moses Lake
 (Eastern Washington position, Grant County)
Occupation: Consultant, rangeland/grazing sustainability
 Current Term: 01/01/2007 - 12/31/2012


 Rolland Schmitten, Lake Wenatchee
 (Eastern Washington position, Chelan County)
Occupation: Marine Resources Consultant
 Current Term: 06/18/2009 - 12/31/2014


 Bradley Smith, Ph.D., Bellingham
 (Western Washington position, Whatcom County)
Occupation: Dean, Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University
 Current Term: 06/18/2009 - 12/31/2014


Vacant
 (Eastern Washington position)


Vacant
 (Western Washington position)

[Caseyd]

Interesting, thanks for the info KillBilly.

I can think of a few members here, who id like to see on the commission.

[mulehunter]

I know that really frustrate.  We dont have to give up since long time fighting. It been since 2007 until today.  I know you all have been emailing, calling many times.  I will email more.  Its not fair for them to pick 7 anti wolf to vote yes with out any reason.
You can write to Atty ask any question. 

 http://www.atg.wa.gov/

[bearpaw]

KillBilly is right, I've know about these vacant positions for a year or so. I don't think it prevents them from conducting business as long as a certain number are present.

[gaddy]

if there were vacant positions, were there any qualified candidates that were not appointed? or was no one willing? or were the available canidates not what the gov wanted in place?

[wraithen]

Door number 3.

[bearpaw]

I think we are ahead to wait and hope they fill the positions after we have a new governor. We have a 50/50 chance of getting a new governor that has different views.