Sportsmen Attempt To Take Back Control Of Fish And Wildlife Referendum Drive Will Remove Governor’s Authority To Appoint Commission Director

Politics vs. professionalism is at the core of a referendum on Washington’s November ballot that would restore the state Fish and Wildlife Commission’s authority to make fish and wildlife management policy.

A broad coalition of sportsmen and conservation groups has been organized to promote Referendum 45, which undo back the governor’s authority to appoint the agency’s director and return the power to the nine-member citizen commission.

Although widespread support was evident at statewide meetings last summer, the sportsmen know the campaign will be difficult.

“We recognized that the bulk of the people in this state do not hunt or fish, and therefore don’t know about the commission and what’s at stake,” said Bob Panther, executive director of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council based in Spokane.

The commission was created by a citizen initiative in 1933 to appoint the state’s wildlife director and guide wildlife policy. In a trade for more state funding for wildlife, the 1987 Legislature took away the commission’s power to appoint the director and gave it to then-Gov. Booth Gardner.

The two subsequent directors virtually stopped attending the commission’s public hearings.

Gov. Mike Lowry, blasted Referendum 45 as “bad, bad policy” and a “significant setback for real progress in fish and wildlife management.”

The sportsmen’s groups vigorously disagree.

Carl Crouse of Olympia, a former Fish and Wildlife director who retired in 1976, is helping lead the campaign to approve Referendum 45 because he said he’s seen “a deterioration in professionalism in the department.”

“I think the director of Fish and Wildlife should come to the office in the morning, sit at his desk and ask what he can do to help Washington’s fish and wildlife, rather than trying to figure out how he can get more votes for the governor so he can keep his job,” Crouse said.

“When the commission had authority, all business was done in public. Now it’s done behind closed doors.”

, DataTimes MEMO: For information on the campaign to approve Referendum 45, contact the Fish and Wildlife Alliance, P.O. Box 12248, Everett, WA 98206, telephone (360) 491-1980.

This sidebar appeared with the story: REFERENDUM 45 If approved, it would: * Continue to allow the governor to appoint three fish and wildlife commissioners every two years. * Give the Fish and Wildlife Commission, rather than the governor, the power to appoint the Fish and Wildlife Department’s director. * Expand the commission’s authority over allocation of fish and shellfish to commercial users. * Give the commission authority over tribal and international fish and wildlife agreements. * Permit the commission to approve the department’s budget. * Allow the commission to select its own staff.