Gregoire appoints Carpenter, Kehne to wildlife commission

Larry Carpenter, a Mount Vernon boat dealer and sportfishing enthusiast, and Jay Kehne, an Omak conservationist and hunter, were appointed Wednesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire to vacant positions on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The commission is a nine-member panel that sets policy for the state Fish and Wildlife Department.

Carpenter will be a strong voice for salmon and steelhead anglers.

Kehne likely falls in the category of wolf advocate, considering he’s the Okanogan outreach coordinator for Conservation Northwest, but he has wide-ranging credentials.

During his 31-year career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kehne’s worked to provide conservation assistance to farmers and ranchers. He’s worked with conservation easements involving counties as well as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

He’s a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk and Mule Deer foundations.

Kehne is the replacement for Spokane’s George Orr, who retired at the end of his term a year ago.

Fish and Wildlife commissioners are appointed by the governor to six-year terms. Three members must reside east of the Cascade Mountains, three must reside west of the summit and three may reside anywhere in the state.

In its December meeting, the commission approved Washington’s Wolf Management plan and heard proposals for sportfishing regulations.

The commission’s next meeting is in Olympia on Jan. 6-7, when the agenda includes hearing revised proposals for the 2012-14 hunting seasons.