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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sagle developer named to fish, game panel

Betsy Z. Russell Staff writer

BOISE – North Idaho has a new Fish and Game commissioner: Gov. Dirk Kempthorne on Wednesday appointed Sagle real estate developer Tony McDermott.

“Tony is a longtime Idaho resident and a hunter and fisherman who cares deeply about sportsmen’s issues,” Kempthorne said. “His education and leadership experience will be a valuable asset to the Fish and Game Commission and the people of Idaho.”

McDermott replaces Nancy Hadley of Sandpoint, who served two four-year terms – the legal maximum. Hadley, a financial consultant and the first woman ever to serve on the commission, has continued to fill the seat since her term expired June 30, awaiting the governor’s action on naming a new commissioner.

Mike Journee, the governor’s press secretary, said Kempthorne had no qualms about replacing the commission’s sole woman with a male appointee. “As he did when he appointed Nancy, he wanted to bring the best person to the job that he could find,” Journee said. “Mr. McDermott filled all his qualifications.”

By law, the seven-member Fish and Game Commission can’t have more than four members from the same political party. But it’s had no Democrats in years – instead, the commission has four Republicans and three independents. McDermott, like Hadley, identified himself as an independent.

Senate Democrats have frequently objected to the lack of Democrats on the commission, but independent appointees have been easily confirmed in the largely Republican state Senate.

“He’s not a Republican,” Journee said.

“The statute says that you can’t have any more than four of the same political party – it doesn’t say which political party they should be part of.”

McDermott holds a master’s degree in public administration from Central Michigan University.

He is a 28-year U.S. Army veteran who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and is a life member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Rifle Association and North American Hunting Club.

He also is a member of Idaho Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife.

“I am an Idaho landowner with 40 years of fishing and hunting experiences in Idaho’s backcountry,” McDermott said in a statement.

“I feel it is time to give something back to the state that has given so much to me. I will work hard to properly represent the needs of Idaho’s wildlife resources and the citizens of Idaho.”

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Journee said the time lag between the end of Hadley’s official term in office and the appointment of McDermott came because “the governor wanted to make sure he got the right person in the spot. He’s been looking, and as soon as he had an opportunity to see the qualifications that Mr. McDermott brought, he appointed him as soon as he could.”