Just saw this ons NWS:



Sad that Wecker will be resigning. She has been a great commissioner. Graybill is a good choice (for us sporties). Not sure about Thorburn. I do see she's an avid birder.

Where is this extra commissioner slot coming from? With Wecker leaving that leaves only one opening, not two.

There has been two "eastern Washington" vacancies for sometime.

I assume that Thoroburn and Graybill would be filling those vacancies and with Wecker leaving there will be another.

I agree that Commissioner Wecker will be missed; she has done an excellent job and seemed to bend over backwards to assure that everyone regardless of their take on an issue had a fair opportunity. On those times that I have testified before the commissioners I thought were questions reflected an understanding of the issue and that she had given them careful thought.

I wish her well in her next efforts.

Curt

Rollie Schmitten, from E WA, decided not to pursue reappointment.

NEWS RELEASE
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/
March 20, 2015
Contact: Commission Office, (360) 902-2267
Governor announces two appointments
to Fish and Wildlife Commission
OLYMPIA - Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed fishing columnist Dave Graybill and retired public health physician Kim Thorburn to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
The commission is a nine-member citizen panel that sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Members are appointed by the governor to six-year terms and are subject to state Senate confirmation. Three members must reside in eastern Washington, three in western Washington, and three may live anywhere in the state. No two members may live in the same county.
"We're extremely pleased to welcome these great additions to the commission," said Brad Smith, commission chair. "These are two strong individuals and we are looking forward to seeing their perspectives brought to the table."
The governor appointed Graybill, also known as the Fishin' Magician, to a term ending Dec. 31, 2020. Graybill, an avid angler who lives in Leavenworth, writes sport fishing columns for Washington newspapers and has a regular radio broadcast. A long-time Washington resident, Graybill participates in several outdoors organizations, including the Icicle Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Coastal Conservation Association. He also has served on the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement Board. Graybill is a graduate of the University of Washington. The governor appointed Graybill to succeed Rollie Schmitten, of Leavenworth, who did not seek re-appointment when his term expired at the beginning of this year.
Inslee also appointed Thorburn, of Spokane, to fill a vacant eastern Washington position that runs through 2016. Thorburn has degrees from Stanford University and the University of California at San Francisco. She previously worked as a professor of medicine for the University of Hawaii, as the director for Spokane Regional Health District and, most recently, as the medical director for Planned Parenthood of the Inland Northwest. Thorburn has held offices for the Spokane Audubon Society and Washington Ornithological Society and was the recipient of WDFW's 2010 Volunteer of the Year award for her efforts to help bring sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse back to Lincoln County.
The commission is meeting Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21, in Moses Lake. For more information on the commission, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/ .
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"Sad that Wecker will be resigning. "

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I wouldn't count her out just yet.....

Well I *hope* that means she's resigning to take up a different position within WDFW. It seems strange that she would be up for confirmation last year, then resign this year.

Methinks the guv and his "staff" are being rather presumptive and premature about that announcement.

I thought she was giving up the chair but was going to serve out her appointment

Miranda's commission term expires 12/31/2018 unless something changed

Unfortunately the Senate has not seen fit to vote on confirming her appointment simply allowing her to continue to serve - something she has done with great aplomb. I certainly hope that she continues on in her role as a Commissioner!

I'd miss going to the Commission meetings, without Miranda Wecker. somewhere on the Commission. She always had control of any meetings I went to and was VERY knowledgeable about items on the agenda.

Thanks for your time.......hope you enjoy your time away or success in another field, if you choose.

http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2014020148

Cue up video to 6:00 for the segment on MW's testimony for appointment/confirmation.

This was over a year ago.

She has selflessly served with distinction and grace WITHOUT formal confirmation for over a decade... 6 years as chair and 2 years as vice chair.

Any political pressure to remove her from the commission is horribly misguided. By public referendum, the whole framework for our states commission structure is intended to insulate that body and its members from direct political influence.

Obviously some politicians feel they are above the will of the people.

I would say more but I don't want to be too presumptive or premature.

Apparently, the rumors of a pending resignation from the Commission by Miranda Wecker have some traction. I’ve been doing a little poking around and visiting with various contacts about reasons behind the possible departure of Commissioner Wecker. As has been mentioned in other posts on this thread, the Commission works for the people of the state and they are charged with managing our fish and wildlife resources. As such, they have to have the best interests of the resources as their driving responsibility and science, not politics, needs to be used in the decisions made. I think we have been seeing that sea change in our fish and wildlife management over the past few years. Some moves by the Commission haven’t been popular but they are for the overall good of a sound resource management program.

It is my understanding that a number of the Coastal Caucus legislators and in particular Blake, Hatfield, Hargrove are not happy with the way the Commission and, in this situation, Commissioner Wecker, have been working to re-build our fish and wildlife resources. It would appear that commercial interests have been pushing for a change. There are also political concerns over the excellent choice the Commission made for our new Director. It sounds like Director Unsworth was not the preferred candidate by the tribes and the Governor’s office. It looks to me like political pressure is being applied and Commissioner Wecker may have been asked to resign. If so, that request is coming from the Governor’s office.

Governor Inslee saw fit to re-appoint Commissioner Wecker in 2013. He knew that he was getting a strong advocate for professional fish and wildlife management. Unfortunately, she has not been confirmed by the Senate for during her time with the Commission. Had she been approved, we wouldn’t be discussing her departure.

I did some digging into the statutes and rules that address appointive offices in state government and you can read them in the links below. My read is that the Governor could request Commissioner Wecker’s resignation. This would, of course, give him and those pushing for her removal political cover. If no letter of resignation is submitted, then, as I read the RCW and Senate Rules he would have to request a vote of the whole Senate to remove her from her seat on the Commission. I sincerely hope cooler heads prevail within the Senate and Commissioner Wecker be allowed to finish out her term as one of our Wildlife Commissioners.

I don’t know how the process will work out. I’m sure Commissioner Wecker will take the high road in the interests of fish and wildlife resource management and not the lower political route that is driving this issue.

If you would like to see Commissioner Wecker finish out her term, you should contact your state Senator's office. It would be nice if the Senate would vote to confirm her appointment and let her finish her term as a Commissioner.



http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.06


RCW 43.06.094
Gubernatorial appointees — Removal prior to confirmation.
Gubernatorial appointees subject to senate confirmation, other than those who serve at the governor's pleasure, may not be removed from office without cause by the governor prior to confirmation except upon consent of the senate as provided for by the rules of the senate.
[1981 c 338 § 1.]
http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/Pages/senate_rules.aspx#top


Confirmation of Gubernatorial Appointees
Rule 69.
When the names of appointees to state offices are transmitted to the secretary of the senate for senate confirmation, the communication from the governor shall be recorded and referred to the appropriate standing committee.
The standing committee, or subcommittee, pursuant to rule 42, shall require each appointee referred to the committee for consideration to complete the standard questionnaire to be used to ascertain the appointee's general background and qualifications. The committee may also require the appointee to complete a supplemental questionnaire related specifically to the qualifications for the position to which he has been appointed.
ny hearing on a gubernatorial appointment, held by the standing committee, or subcommittees, pursuant to rule 42, shall be a public hearing. The appointee may be required to appear before the committee on request. When appearing, the appointee shall be required to testify under oath or affirmation. The chair of the committee or the presiding member shall administer the oath or affirmation in accordance with RCW 44.16. (See also Article 2, Sec. 6 of the State Constitution.)
Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prevent a standing committee, or subcommittee, pursuant to rule 42, upon a two-thirds vote of its members, from holding executive sessions when considering an appointment.
When the committee on rules presents the report of the standing committee before the senate, the question shall be the confirmation of the name proposed, and the roll shall then be called and the yeas and nays entered upon the journal. In the event a message is received from the governor requesting return of an appointment or appointments to the office of the governor prior to confirmation, the senate shall vote upon the governor's request and the appointment or appointments shall be returned to the governor if the request is approved by a majority of the members elected or appointed. (Article 13 of the State Constitution.)

I believe this is the key language to focus on.

The guv has to man up and actively retract his appointment... presumably with just cause citing why/where/how he made a mistake in the original appointment. The Senate would then have to vote in agreement that the appointment should be returned to the guv. I would think they too would have to cite just cause for doing so.... or at least make that discussion a part of the public record on their deliberations before voting.

Bullying a highly qualified commissioner out of the position in this manner is a LOW blow. She has served diligently and honorably for the past decade and the guv knows it.... otherwise he would NOT have re-appointed her in 2013. She has remained steadfast in this capacity, and there has been no change in her professional conduct in carrying out her duties as commissioner.

This is political BS pure and simple... exactly the kind of thing that Referendum 45 was intended to eliminate.

A resignation letter gives cover to the Governor and the legislators.

If the Governor doesn't get a resignation letter then, as I read Senate Rule 69, they have to vote on the request because there has not yet been a confirmation of the appointment.


"In the event a message is received from the governor requesting return of an appointment or appointments to the office of the governor

prior to confirmation,

the senate shall vote upon the governor's request..."

Blake, Hatfield, and Hargrove the commercial trifecta

It would not hurt to contact the governor also.

I see no reason for Commissioner Wecker to resign. She has been a strong advocate for our fish and wildlife resources for over a decade. Obviously, some folks don't appreciate the work and responsibilities faced by the Commission, who are working for all users of our state's fish and wildlife resources. I'd like to think that our Commissioners would not want to leave their post with the time left on their appointment without cause. I'm inclined to think the pressure is going up to and then coming out of the Governor's office.

In response to eyeFISH, if there was "cause" for removal then no vote would be necessary by the Senate. See the RCWs posted below:


RCW 43.06.070
Removal of appointive officers.
The governor may remove from office any state officer appointed by him or her not liable to impeachment, for incompetency, misconduct, or malfeasance in office.
[2009 c 549 § 5017; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.070. Prior: 1893 c 101 § 1; RRS § 10988.]


RCW 43.06.080
Removal of appointive officers — Statement of reasons to be filed.
Whenever the governor is satisfied that any officer not liable to impeachment has been guilty of misconduct, or malfeasance in office, or is incompetent, he or she shall file with the secretary of state a statement showing his or her reasons, with his or her order of removal, and the secretary of state shall forthwith send a certified copy of such order of removal and statement of causes by registered mail to the last known post office address of the officer in question.
[2009 c 549 § 5018; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.080. Prior: 1893 c 101 § 2; RRS § 10989.]


If there is "no cause", then there are two options available to the Governor/politicians. One is the letter of resignation that gives the politicians their "cover". The second is a public hearing and vote by the Senate, at the request of the Governor's office, on whether or not to keep the appointee in office. The second option takes away their "cover".


Contacts with your Senator and the Governor's office in support of Commissioner Wecker could turn the tide.

It would not hurt to send an e-mail to Miranda Wecker through the commission e mail to show support of her and hopefully her decision to finish her term.

If writing the governor, you might introduce yourself as one of the 800,000 plus sport anglers not supporting him in calling for commissioner Miranda Wecker resignation.

Miranda has been a great asset to the commission. She always took time to explore the issues and on a number of occassions she pulled me aside for great chats at commission meetings. Personable and caring. We need more folks like that on the commission.

We need to try to keep her on the Commission through the end of her term. I don't think the "resignation" is her idea.