Thorburn named to state fish, wildlife panel

An expert birder and physician from Spokane is one of two new members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission named by Gov. Jay Inslee.

The governor’s office confirmed Friday that Kim Thorburn, former chief health officer of the Spokane Regional Health District and an officer in the Spokane Audubon Society, has been named to fill a long-vacant seat.

Thorburn has been heavily involved with the state Fish and Wildlife Department’s restoration and monitoring of sage and sharp-tailed grouse in Eastern Washington.

David Graybill, an angler from Seattle with lifelong ties to fishing the upper Columbia region, will replace a seat vacated by former National Marine Fisheries Director Rollie Schmitten, of Lake Wenatchee. 

Graybill has been a salmon advocate and is known for his FishinMagician.com updates.

Pending is the resignation of Miranda Wecker, of Naselle, and the announcement of her replacement, officials confirmed. Wecker is a former commission chairwoman who was first appointed in 2005 and reappointed.

The new appointments take effect Monday, although they must eventually be confirmed by the Washington Senate. 

The Fish and Wildlife Commission is a nine-member panel that directs policy for the Fish and Wildlife Department. 

The commission is meeting today in Moses Lake. On the agenda is a long list of proposals related to hunting seasons.