Gov. Bill Walker has removed the "acting" from Sam Cotten's job title. Cotten is now commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
On another front, the Peninsula Clarion reports that Karl Johnstone, chairman of the state Board of Fisheries, has resigned.
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29 comments:
Hope to God they don't appoint Maw. His arrogance, bullying, and know it all attitude will not work well in rural Alaska. And so much for the transition conference preference for science based management instead of politics in fish and game, if that's what they do.
I expect the Board of Fisheries to hold a fair, transparent, and public process when selecting candidates ... It is apparent to me that it is time for a change on the Board of Fisheries," wrote Walker in an message to House Speaker Mike Chenault.
http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2015-01-20/bof-head-johnstone-resigns
So how was the appoint of Maw transparent? Were there other candidates? Were they qualified? Looks like an appointment outside the process of recruiting for applicants.
A good day for Alaska's far and away largest source of local employment, commercial fishing. You don't have to pretend to be a resident anymore Karl, enjoy the sun.
Well shoots, KRSA sure coulda used an open line into the conference call on this one. Bet they didn't see that one coming. Oh well, think of all the money you'll save on complimentary lodging and fishin' reels.
if you think Vince Webster had a tough confirmation, wait until they get Dr. Maw in front of that "honorable body".....His goose is cooked....Foolish political move from our new administration. Should make for some humorous politics.
How Karl Johnstone managed to get on and hold sway over the board for so long is a mystery to me. Just google his name along with ethics violations and you'll see his checkered past. He was not fit to serve this state, hell he doesn't even live here and hasn't for years. He undermined public trust in a fundamentally good process, I just hope the trust can be restored. Maw is a fair minded and intelligent man and he will bring balance back to the Board of Fish.
8:46 PM
You have no idea on how the BOF members selection process works or you are confused to what Mr. Maw is being appointed to. The Governor appoints BOF members and the legislature confirms them. This is a great day for Alaska and its resources. Rowland will be a voice for removing Politics based resource management.
@8:46pm. Maw is appointed to serve the remainder of Johnston's term, which ends June 2015. He will have apply for appointment to another term just like any other candidate would have to. Recall the appointment of Reed Morisky after Bill Brown resigned two years ago.
That said, I would expect KRSA to mount a full court press to block Maw's confirmation. Question is...do they still have the juice to do that? They burnt some bridges over the Webster vote. Also, I wonder how much Maw will influence UCI issues, as I believe he would be conflicted out of voting on many issues due to family and other financial involvement in the salmon fishery.
Maw will have a tough time being confirmed by the legislature - what's the governor got up his sleeve? My guess his real appointment will be someone from the PWS region when Maw is rejected.
To: " you have no idea...". You are absolutely right - YOU have no idea how the process works. Sure, the governor appoints, but the legislature has to confirm that appointmant. As the two posts state, Maw may have a tough time of it, especially with Mat-Su & Anchorage legislators.
Karl, who couldn't make it fishin, couldn't make it judging, and may be retiring to Petersburg Virginia.
Just like his Lawyers, unchanged for decades.
'Wherever occurring in their natural state, fish, wildlife, and waters are reserved to the people for common use.'
And it provides in Art. VIII, § 15:
'No exclusive right or special privilege of fishery shall be created or authorized in the natural waters of the State.'
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/397/82
Maw is history. The Gov made a big mistake in not understanding the support Johnstone has in the legislature and with the big majority of Alaskans. Maw will not be confirmed and the Gov will have a terrible start to get his agenda passed. He should talk Maw into withdrawing go to Johnstone and ask him to stay. Otherwise he will never recover from this s... Storm.
Johnstone had his own agenda and was rude to anyone who didn't agree with him. Also, anyone who spends half the year in Arizona should not have anything to do with management of Alaskas Fish and Game.
Storm, wake up, you're hallucinating.
Dr. Maw may not have been the wisest choice due to his business conflicts & lack of personality, but he is a helluva better candidate then Johnstone, who had to fly to BOF meetings from Arizona!
Methinks the governor's real choice for the BOF will be revealed in June when Dr. Maw is rejected by the legislature.
Totally agree with 11:14 - maw is Walkers first and hopefully only big mistake. I've satthru BOF cook inlet meetings and heard his browbeating and temper tantrums with my own ears. Not someone who will look for consensus & compromise and the next BOF meetings will prove it.
Compromise. Johnstone's favorite word. Each time the sport industry grows beyond it's borders, we see that what compromise really meant was, "let's agree to share your share."
GOOD RIDDANCE JOHNSTONE! I have close to 30 years in Bristol Bay. If there was ever a "all stop" on the road to any progressive way to prosecute the salmon fishery in the Bay it was Johnstone! Remember watching him in his boat trying to be a fisherman and it was no wonder he sold out of the fishery. Then he got a shot at controlling everyone else in his fish board role. Alaska does not need anymore Carl Johnstone's....Enjoy your retirement and don't let the door hit you on the way out!
Clear “Fish First” Policy for Alaska
Read the Document. The days of failed policy's and management imposed by the BOF and KRSA are done.
http://gov.alaska.gov/Walker_media/transition_page/fisheries_final.pdf
Walker has made a very costly blunder..first by not waiting for the public to weigh in on whether Johnstone should be retained and then in a fit of anger appointing to the BOF the very person it did not want as Commissioner. And by a 7 to 0 vote, including the votes from the three Commercial side of the Board. In the first Month of his tenure he has deeply offended the lawmakers with whom he must work with at a time when he will need all the help he can muster. Maw will not be confirmed and it will get ugly when he attends committees and finally the joint session. Walker will look like a fool for this decision. The problem is that he will be too stubborn to get Maw to withdraw his name even when shown that he will not be confirmed. Johnstone was just too effective and those Kenai fishermen who held the fund raisers for Walker got to him. He promised that if Gov the Cook Inlet meeting would be in Kenai. So he got egg on his face when the Board voted 6 to 1 to hold it in Anch and got pissed.. He seems to have forgotten that the BOF was created to be independent from influence and pressure from the legislature and the Governor when making its decisions.
So does anyone think that Maw has a chance of getting confirmed? He wants the Feds to take over salmon management in Cook Inlet, Prince William Sound, and the Alaska penninsula. He is a traitor for suing the state and personally advocating that position. He is done.
9:57: You are quite emotional. You must have been one of those looking to get rid of the 32' limit. What else did Johnstone do to you to make you so angry? How is it he "sold out" the fishery? Oh I forgot. Perhaps you were stacking set net permits. Greed is a bad thing my friend. Everyone I have talked with from Dillingham and King Salmon seemed to appreciate his work on the board. But it is just another example where no good deed goes unpunished. You may not have experienced that concept if you have always been so mean spirited.
He is a traitor 9:11?
Like the BOF, getting sued, advocating many illegal and unconstitutional issues against Alaska Statute for decades. You have to love their lawyer, just like Johnstone. The unemployed Judge, and the over employed lawyer.
Or Mead Treadwell who rejected a proposed initiative that sought to ban commercial shore gill nets and set nets in non-subsistence areas?
Are you sure about your definition "traitor?"
http://www.adn.com/article/20140723/court-finds-urban-setnet-ban-initiative-can-move-forward
9:10: The large majority of Maw's lawsuits were dismissed. His Federal lawsuit to take away state management of salmon fisheries in Cook Inlet, PWS, and the Alaska penn was also dismissed. Treadwell's decision was reversed by the State court. At this point in time the initiative is moving forward. I am not 9:11, but felt that you should get your facts straight. Anyone who does as much over a long period of time to take away state management of its fisheries management is not good for Alaska. It will be very bad for the Governor. There were lots of other choices, but he is just too bull headed and has no one in his new administration that could have advised him properly. When Maw is bounced by the legislature, hopefully he will see the light and his next appointment will re-balance the BOF.
I am from the Mat Su area and until last summer had been unable to catch a silver in the area for many years. I was forced to drive to the Kenai to get a few reds and then had to contend with traffic and high prices. I am not alone. Thank goodness for the Johnstone led Fish board for doing the right thing to get fish back up to the Valley. From what i read the commercial guys still did well even though they were not allowed to fish in some areas so as to allow fish to get to our streams. All of the ugly things said about him doesn't take away from what was accomplished under his watch. And at least for the next two years we will have fish up north.
So very interesting how one area of the state is monopolizing all things to do with fisheries. It is impossible to even start a new string on some forums or to debate issues without being attacked. Of course, it is a select few that stoke and stir the embers to keep the vitriol going lest some other issue might be debated. They constantly bring up old stories that might discredit Johnstone which have all been disproven. There are many good people that enjoy retirement during some of the winter months outside the state. Johnstone worked hard for the state and the resources, but the BOF is a thankless and tough board. You will not please everyone. I will thank him for a job well done.
Well Roland has plenty of skeltons in his closet that will need addressing. He did not get vetted properly. Yes newspaper articles sing his praises, but those in the know will be heard. PLEASE be open and transparent, bring on the truth. On this issue someone needs to stand up and say: The emperor has no clothes.
The governor promised that the upper cook inlet meeting would be in kenai. He warned the chairman that if it was not held in kenai that he would bounce him from the BOF. he was angry that Maw was not sent to him as a potential Commissioner, even though he had made clear that he wanted Cotten. Then he fired the chairman who was one of seven votes who all voted against Maw. And those seven included three commercial fishermen. His meddling in the BOF process is unprecedented. Maybe the governor should take over the role of setting fisheries policy.
Is Maw that short heavy set man who was lobbying the board of game members in Juneau? If so, no wonder they voted yes to interview him. He was laying it in thick! How is that even ethical?
Maw will go down with less than 15 votes. Johnstone will go down as one of the best BOF members ever. And UCI fisheries in Anch and Mat Su will finally get opportunity for the hundreds of thousands of Alaskans who have been deprived. Thank you Chairman.
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