Governor Appointees

[SB]

When the governor appoints a person to a commission or board of a state agency should that appointee have some qualifications in the field in which that state agency works in? Or, is being a donor to the campaign good enough?

Use the MDWFP’s wildlife commission as an example of how you would build a 5 member commission if you were voted in as governor. What qualifications would you use to select these members, if any? Note - they do have to be approved by the Senate, so Benny might be a hard one to get approved. Remember Benny?

[peewee]

I’m pretty sure everyone on here and that knows me knows my position on this as I’ve been bitching about it for 15 years. I would find EXPERTS in the field, not donors.

[peewee]

I’m pretty sure everyone on here and that knows me knows my position on this as I’ve been bitching about it for 15 years. I would find EXPERTS in the field, not donors.

[SB]

Peewee - Just for the sake of discussion for you and others, how much should science be used in decision making when managing natural resources? I’m thinking about the position a commissioner is in when a decision needs to be made on the management need of a species(s) and implications to hunters.

[JLT]

I think the group should have a similar diversity to the people that they represent. I don’t think they should necessarily be biologist, but I do think they should have a team of qualified biologist feeding them information that they can use to make choices.

My 5 member commission:

One guy who hunts public only. Two guys who hunt a mix of public and private. One guy who hunts only on a private lease. One guy who is self made wealthy and hunts his own private land.

[Wildfowler]

My 5 member commission:

One guy who hunts public only. Two guys who hunt a mix of public and private. One guy who hunts only on a private lease. One guy who is self made wealthy and hunts his own private land.

I agree with this concept that they should represent evenly the hunters/fisherman from across the state. But they should incorporate current science into their decision making.

There should be at least one wildlife biologist. If there happens to be more that’s good too. But I don’t think it should be a requirement that they all are.

[peewee]

Peewee - Just for the sake of discussion for you and others, how much should science be used in decision making when managing natural resources? I’m thinking about the position a commissioner is in when a decision needs to be made on the management need of a species(s) and implications to hunters.

Scot, I would prefer decisions be science based using common sense. Most biologist I know are conservation oriented and the majority are hunters too. In the past I may not have been happy about some decisions but I understand the thought processes.

[jacksbuddy]

To answer your original question, I think the appointee needs to have, at least, some knowledge about the area in which the agency works. However, they do not need to be experts in that field. The experts need to be in the agency actually doing the work.

For example, do we, the great people of the good state of Mississippi, want the MDWFP Commissioners to be outdoorsmen? Absolutely. We also want them to be: long range planners, conservationists, politically savvy (to counter PETA and other environmentalist waccos, and help divert federal money to our great state, etc.), have good common sense, and be all around good stewards of our state resources, etc. However, we don't want them to be specialists in one outdoors field. (I like fishing and duck hunting too, but what does a Marine Biologist know about CWD, Pine Beetles, or turkey habitat? Answer: Not enough.)

[stang67]

I remember some experts quitting the agency when the Commission did something they the trained experts were opposed to.

[jacksbuddy]

I remember some experts quitting the agency when the Commission did something they the trained experts were opposed to.

^^^^That happens.^^^^

And typically, it is the result of both sides being stubborn and, to a certain extent, wrong.

[Wildfowler]

I don’t remember this. What was the issue?

[gps4]

I don’t remember this. What was the issue?

Baiting?

[stang67]

Some biologists resigned when they started allowing baiting. And deer hunting in MS will never be the same, IMO. Wish the priorities for the baiting issue were the same as for the Pumps, relative to our wildlife.

[hntrpat1]

Most biologists that Ive met act like they are hunters but don't know what the hell they are doing.

[peewee]

Most biologists that Ive met act like they are hunters but don't know what the hell they are doing.

You haven’t met many then cause the ones I’m know are some of the best hunters I’ve been around. I’ve been around and worked for quite a few of them too.