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New interim director expected 'soon'
By JEFF GEARINO and BILL LUCKETT Star-Tribune staff writers
9/18/03
For the second time in 16 months, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission must launch a search for a new permanent director of the Game and Fish Department.
In the meantime, Gov. Dave Freudenthal will consider appointing an interim director to head the agency after consulting with the commissioners later this month, according to Lara Azar, the governor's press secretary.
"I think the plan at this time is to appoint an interim director ... the commission would submit three names (to serve as interim director) and then the governor would interview those three people and select one," Azar said.
"We certainly anticipate a conversation between the governor and the commission on this issue soon, but at this point, nothing has been set in stone," she said. "It's still pretty early."
Commission President Jerry Sanders could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The governor appointed Brent Manning to the job six months ago but he has quit the job to take another position in Illinois. Manning replaced Tom Thorne, who was named acting director of the agency in May 2002. Thorne, a 35-year employee, had previously served as chief of the department's Service Division.
Thorne replaced John Baughman, who served six years as director. Baughman retired and later became executive vice president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Wyoming's Game and Fish Commission is charged with the task of advertising the permanent director's position and then narrowing down the candidate's list before making a recommendation to the governor on who to hire for the job. The governor's nominee must be confirmed by lawmakers.
Last November, the commission received 10 applications for the post.. Those applicants ranged from employees already working in the department to people on the East Coast.
Five of the applicants were interviewed by the commission during an executive session and three names were forwarded to Freudenthal in January, shortly after he took office.
Those names included Manning, Thorne and Jim Schwartz, deputy director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. Both Schwartz and Thorne told the Star-Tribune last month they most likely would not seek the job again.
Bob Wharff, executive director of the Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife in Wyoming, said Wednesday his group hopes the governor will consider hiring from within the ranks of the department rather than from out of state.
"A lot of our guys are telling me we want to keep this in-house and hire somebody from Wyoming," Wharff said.
"I'm kind of torn ... I think they should hire the best guy available, but I'm also concerned they could get somebody in here that doesn't understand Wyoming, the sportsmen and their desires," he said.
"I also wonder if we can afford to have an interim director right now because there's so many crucial decisions to be made such as on the (state's) wolf management plan."
Manning's successor will have to deal with a wide variety of critical issues facing the agency in the next few years.
Those include the management of endangered species such as the wolf, grizzly bear and sage grouse; wildlife diseases such as chronic wasting disease, brucellosis and whirling disease; feedgrounds and drought; and finding ways to secure long-term funding sources for a variety of agency programs and initiatives.
By JEFF GEARINO and BILL LUCKETT Star-Tribune staff writers
9/18/03
For the second time in 16 months, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission must launch a search for a new permanent director of the Game and Fish Department.
In the meantime, Gov. Dave Freudenthal will consider appointing an interim director to head the agency after consulting with the commissioners later this month, according to Lara Azar, the governor's press secretary.
"I think the plan at this time is to appoint an interim director ... the commission would submit three names (to serve as interim director) and then the governor would interview those three people and select one," Azar said.
"We certainly anticipate a conversation between the governor and the commission on this issue soon, but at this point, nothing has been set in stone," she said. "It's still pretty early."
Commission President Jerry Sanders could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The governor appointed Brent Manning to the job six months ago but he has quit the job to take another position in Illinois. Manning replaced Tom Thorne, who was named acting director of the agency in May 2002. Thorne, a 35-year employee, had previously served as chief of the department's Service Division.
Thorne replaced John Baughman, who served six years as director. Baughman retired and later became executive vice president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Wyoming's Game and Fish Commission is charged with the task of advertising the permanent director's position and then narrowing down the candidate's list before making a recommendation to the governor on who to hire for the job. The governor's nominee must be confirmed by lawmakers.
Last November, the commission received 10 applications for the post.. Those applicants ranged from employees already working in the department to people on the East Coast.
Five of the applicants were interviewed by the commission during an executive session and three names were forwarded to Freudenthal in January, shortly after he took office.
Those names included Manning, Thorne and Jim Schwartz, deputy director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. Both Schwartz and Thorne told the Star-Tribune last month they most likely would not seek the job again.
Bob Wharff, executive director of the Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife in Wyoming, said Wednesday his group hopes the governor will consider hiring from within the ranks of the department rather than from out of state.
"A lot of our guys are telling me we want to keep this in-house and hire somebody from Wyoming," Wharff said.
"I'm kind of torn ... I think they should hire the best guy available, but I'm also concerned they could get somebody in here that doesn't understand Wyoming, the sportsmen and their desires," he said.
"I also wonder if we can afford to have an interim director right now because there's so many crucial decisions to be made such as on the (state's) wolf management plan."
Manning's successor will have to deal with a wide variety of critical issues facing the agency in the next few years.
Those include the management of endangered species such as the wolf, grizzly bear and sage grouse; wildlife diseases such as chronic wasting disease, brucellosis and whirling disease; feedgrounds and drought; and finding ways to secure long-term funding sources for a variety of agency programs and initiatives.
