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Jul. 29, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gibbons' picks for wildlife board panned

Despite lobbying for incumbents, governor makes new appointments

By SANDRA CHEREB
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ON THE WEB
Nevada Department of Wildlife


Jim Gibbons
Governor's choices for Nevada Wildlife Commission draw criticism

RENO -- Gov. Jim Gibbons quietly appointed four new members to the Nevada Wildlife Commission, disregarding the wishes of some sportsmen and farmers' groups who fear the changes will mean a new course for wildlife management in the state.

Commissioners Jack Robb of Reno and Jim Jeffress of Lovelock, two of five sportsmen representatives on the nine-member commission that sets wildlife policy, said they were informed Friday by the governor's counsel, Josh Hicks, that they would not be named to second terms.

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    • Conservation groups and county advisory boards across the state had been lobbying for their reappointment since April, and initiated a petition drive and e-mail campaign urging Gibbons to name them to another term.

    "We are pretty upset about what he's done here," Ken Wellington with the Elko County Wildlife Advisory Board said Monday.

    Critics say the new appointments will shift the philosophical direction to one that focuses on mule deer as opposed to working to improve habitat to benefit all wildlife.

    Some outdoorsmen have pushed for changes on the commission, arguing the state's priorities have been misdirected and should place more focus on maintaining big game herds to be hunted.

    Backers of Robb and Jeffress believe the commission should continue to take a wider view and preserve habitat that benefits all species, from mule deer to sage grouse.

    "Everybody wants to see more deer herds, but we want to use science," Wellington said.

    "I'm just disgusted with this governor," he said. "I can't believe what he's done to the sportsmen's group in Nevada."

    Charlie Myers, an Elko County commissioner and wildlife advisory panel member, agreed.

    "We're kind of dumbfounded at this point," he said.

    Robb is a former board member of the conservation group Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, which over the years has donated tens of thousands of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours to wildlife habitat projects.

    Jeffress was a biologist with the Wildlife Department for 31 years before he retired.

    Robb and Jeffress, who were first selected by former Gov. Kenny Guinn, said they weren't contacted by Gibbons to discuss reappointment.

    "We initiated multiple contacts with the governor's office," Robb said. "We never had any conversations with the governor."

    Gibbons, a first-term Republican, named Gerald Lent of Reno, Thomas Cavin of Carson City and Michael McBeath of Las Vegas as the new sportsmen representatives.

    Grant Preston Wallace, an alfalfa farmer in Dyer, was appointed to replace Bevan Lister of Pioche as the lone farm representative, according to Ben Kieckhefer, the governor's communication director.

    The other sportsmen representative on the panel was Clint Bentley of Las Vegas.

    Gibbons' office did not announce the appointments.

    None of the new appointees could be reached for immediate comment.

    Doug Busselman, executive vice president of the Nevada Farm Bureau, said he was surprised by Lister's ouster. The Farm Bureau, with more than 1,300 members statewide, sent letters recommending that Lister be retained.

    "I understand the governor can appoint whoever he wants to appoint to the commission," Busselman said. "I respect that."

    Busselman said his group does not know of Wallace and would have liked more communication with the administration, "or at least have a conversation on why what we were recommending wasn't the approach to take."



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    Backstrap wrote on July 29, 2008 02:12 PM: Jacob "BUD" Sonnentag wants his Nevada Mule Deer population back!
    huntersalert

    Bud was a supporter of Assembly Bill 111 on April 9, 2007, which, according to Assemblman Clayborn: "I believe three bighorn sheep trophies are enough." Of course Gerald Lent spoke right after Bud did who said that "Many people do not have sheep tags. The tags are coveted; some people bid over $300,000 for them." Gerald Lent has a Grand Slam..killed on of each!

    Sometimes a man just wants to kill an animal! Oh, it's good for the economy, too.


    Gary wrote on July 29, 2008 11:56 AM: I went to UNR with Cavin, he got a degree in wildlife management or wildlife biology, something along those lines. He's a good guy, he's a hunter and will do what's best for the hunters in this state.
    I don't know who or why they said the focus would switch to the deer herds from other wildlife if none of the new appointments could be contacted for the article. SOMEBODY BETTER START PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DEER HERDS IN THIS STATE!


    Leigh wrote on July 29, 2008 11:38 AM: I would be curious to know if the gentlemen quoted in this article have ever met Tom Cavin -
    My guess is that answer is "no"
    I think he will do a good job representing ALL sportsmen


    Bud Sonnentag wrote on July 29, 2008 09:36 AM: I want to personally thank Gov. Jim Gibbons for having the testicality to appoint 4 new Wildlife Commissioners to the board of commissioners of whom most have a background in wildlife management through having served their own home counties on the "County Advisory Boards to Manage Wildlife". They do bring to the board much experience and not what this biased article implies by Sandra Chereb and her ilk. We've heard from the "status quo and stay the course" bunch in NV for 40 years in the news media and it's obvious they do not like having the pacifier pulled out of their mouths. It's not like they didn't have prior warning. Go to www.huntersalert.org and read the Jan. 6th 2006 article by Bud titled "The Ship Be sinking".
    Hunters Alert is producing many thousands of it's latest annual news letters to be disseminated throughout NV in the next week or so.....please watch for it. I invite you to pay close attention to the names of all the players that this AP article promotes to see the reporter Sandra Chereb"s ties to the status quo group and now,look through your Governors eyes to know what courage it took for him to bust up a 40 year click of corruption. My thanks to you Governor Jim Gibbons for keeping your promises to rural NV and the hunter/sporting class of your state. Cheers! Bud


    br wrote on July 29, 2008 09:08 AM: Commissioners Jack Robb of Reno and Jim Jeffress of Lovelock, two of five sportsmen representatives on the nine-member commission that sets wildlife policy, said they were informed Friday by the governor's counsel, Josh Hicks, that they would not be named to second terms.

    What's the problem? Limiting terms keeps members from perptuating their own agendas.


    Judy wrote on July 29, 2008 08:25 AM: RECALL GIBBONS!


    Sid wrote on July 29, 2008 08:21 AM: Bentley is a Gibbons donor (and a big GOP donor).

    newsmeat


    joe wrote on July 29, 2008 08:18 AM: I'm sure Gibbons somehow worked this into a 95% property tax cut for himself.


    Sid wrote on July 29, 2008 08:10 AM: Michael McBeath owns/leases via Cave Valley Ranch, 40,000 acres in the middle of the State.

    From BLM document:
    "WILDLIFE
    The entire allotment provides habitat for elk, pronghorn and deer during various seasons. Part of the eastern area of the allotment is considered key summer habitat for both deer and elk. Bighorn sheep are considered to occupy the eastern higher elevations of the allotment..."


    bureauoflandmanagement


    Sid wrote on July 29, 2008 08:03 AM: Thomas Cavin
    ex secretary with Lent's group NEVADA HUNTERS ASSOCIATION.

    Too, he is the Treasurer and RA for Nevada Record Book Committee (another Lent group);
    "TOM CAVIN
    Tom Cavin is a hunter, sportsman and conservationist who was one of the initial sponsors of the project which ultimately became the Nevada Wildlife Record Book. Tom is an accomplished cabinet maker by trade, and his entire family is involved with conservation activities and public service. He acts as Treasurer of the Committee and has been an official Boone and Crockett Club scorer since 1977."


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