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| ODFW Needs to go Forward Not Back! |
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 | | Photo by | | Sam Largemouth |
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by Hobart Manns
In about a month from now, we Oregonians will be asked to determine the future of our state for the next four to eight years, something we should not take lightly. I know that the big picture right now is about taxes and jobs and big money projects. Somehow I feel that these will sort themselves out for the better, they always have.
The issue I find most stressful is how the two running for governor will handle our fish and wildlife resources. We know from looking at the record just what happened to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife during the time in office of one of the candidates: the morale at the ODFW fell into an all time low.
The appointed leadership ruled with an iron hand, axing anyone who questioned any leadership decision. In-house memos were issued to all employees to not speak on issues with anyone from the press or media. If caught they could be terminated. Lifetime biologists were pushed aside in favor of those who were willing to support political science and agendas instead of biology.
This is a case in point of what we can expect if the old governor wins the election. Tigers do not lose their spots......history does indeed repeat itself. Why should we expect anything less than more of the same?
This is about one of the very few men I've met in my lifetime that had no axe to grind, and is the most honest and open in his views. He always championed the plight of the resources and how little input the ODFW gave to the average license holder.
At one point during the past governor's terms he was asked to apply for a spot on the ODFW Commission. He did, and had a wealth of support from fishing groups, duck hunters etc. They All knew him to be a very well intended and honest person. His application went through the channels uncontested until his verbal interview with the governor's aide.
He was asked how he would vote on issues if asked to change his views for that of the governor. To which he replied "that he would always vote in favor of the available science and in favor of the benefit of the license holder who harvests the resources". He was rejected and told to re-apply again in the future. Later another governor's aide told him that his last answer was what kept him off the commission. Two days later they appointed a commercial fisherman to the commission without any interview process.
This honest outdoorsman will never re-apply. However all of us who know him wish he would return as the well known outdoor writer M'Q. While he will reside in the hearts of all who know him and have had the privilege to spend time with him, Ed M'Quarry is indeed a hero. The state needs people on the ODFW commission who are there for the resources, not for the politics.
This writer would like to see the next eight years of ODFW management ruled by what's best for the resource-- not the votes. If past management wins and returns, we know for sure what to expect.
I have had friends in the ODFW from 1960 up until the black cloud covered it in the 1990s. Open the windows and let some fresh air and ideas in. It's your call for the future. If re-elected I'll bet a burger and fries he will be re-appointing his old friends and ideas. This state needs new management ideas and opportunities, not yes men. It's your decision next month.
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