So, we finally have two new Commissioners after a wait of over 6 MONTHS! 

Although we know “What” the Commission’s role is, many of us do not know what the process used to appoint a Commissioner is.

Let’s take a quick look at what we do know.

In accordance with RCW 77.04.030, the Governor has 6 weeks from the date of any vacancy on the Commission to appoint a replacement. Here’s what it reads:

RCW 77.04.030

Commission—Appointment.

The fish and wildlife commission consists of nine registered voters of the state. In January of each odd-numbered year, the governor shall appoint with the advice and consent of the senate three registered voters to the commission to serve for terms of six years from that January or until their successors are appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs on the commission prior to the expiration of a term, the governor shall appoint a registered voter within sixty days to complete the term. Three members shall be residents of that portion of the state lying east of the summit of the Cascade mountains, and three shall be residents of that portion of the state lying west of the summit of the Cascade mountains. Three additional members shall be appointed at large. No two members may be residents of the same county. The legal office of the commission is at the administrative office of the department in Olympia.

Right off we see that the Governor violated the RCW by NOT APPOINTING WITHIN 60 DAY!

And exactly HOW is a potential Commissioner selected?  You would think that there would be an orderly, transparent and fair process where potential applicants would be afforded the opportunity to have a level playing field, and were the public would be kept informed.  Well, NOT SO MUCH.  We could not even find any policy on how the process will proceed.  In fact, all we found is that it’s another SECRET process from all indications!

We know that there were applications taken well AFTER the RCW specified 60 day appointment, so that means, that even though the decision was supposed to have been already made, the Governor’s office was still accepting applications…or were they LOOKING FOR THE PERSON “THEY” WANTED, rather than the best qualified?

We know that one of the new Commissioner’s appointed severed as the Executive  Director for the NORTHWEST INDIAN FISHERIES COMMISSION (NWIFC) for over 20 years. YES, THE VERY SAME GROUP THAT OPPOSES OPEN NORTH OF FALCON MEETINGS!!  Now isn’t that interesting?

We also know that for at least one of candidates that were told they were in the FINAL FOUR, there was NO FORMAL INTERVIEW. In fact, the candidate had to ASK if Keith Swenson even wanted to meet? Pretty ridicules for such an important position don’t you agree?

Now, let’s look at the “Public Transparency” that was part of the process….exactly…NONE!!!

There was exactly ZERO public transparency in the selection process. No announcement of who was being considered, what their qualifications were, Bio’s, NOTHING!!!

In fact, everything about this process was done in SECRET!  And the end result was, WE GOT A NEW COMMISSIONER, WHO IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT US, BUT NOW HAS TO START OFF WITH A TAINTED APPOINTMENT BECAUSE HE WAS SELECTED UNDER THE CLOAK OF SECRECY.  

WHEN WILL THEY LEARN THAT SECRETS AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY BREEDS SUSPICION AND DISTRUST? 

THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR “OUR” COMMISSIONERS MUST BE AN OPEN AND FULLY TRANSPARENT PROCESS. IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD THE PEOPLES TRUST BACK IN A COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT THAT NEEDS TO EARN BACK THE PUBLICS CONFIDENCE!