Ex-sheriff named to Fish, Game panel

BOISE – Gov. Jim Risch on Monday appointed former Payette County Sheriff Robert Barowsky, a Democrat, to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.

“He was a well-respected sheriff and has numerous contacts with law enforcement officials throughout the state that will foster a greater relationship in protecting our state’s wildlife resources,” Risch said in a news release.

Barowsky said he has been an avid angler and hunter for several decades. “I have a strong commitment to maintain for every resident the wonderful opportunities that I had to enjoy all aspects of Idaho’s outdoor activities,” he said in a statement.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brady said Barowsky was the wrong choice for the job because his background was in law enforcement, not wildlife. He said candidates should be endorsed by regional nominating committees composed of sportsmen.

“The governor ought to be consulting with the people who buy the permits and licenses and the people who pay the fees to hunt and fish,” Brady said in a statement. “This is taxation without representation.”

On July 7, Risch appointed Republican Randall Budge of Pocatello to the commission to replace Marcus Gibbs, an independent. By charter, only four members of the commission can be from the same party. Besides Budge, three others are from the GOP.

The shuffle meant that Republican John Watts of Boise, whose term on the commission expired June 30, could not be reappointed. Barowsky replaced Watts as the panel’s southwestern Idaho representative. He now will withdraw from a race for a state Senate seat currently held by Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth.