|
New webpage exposes email communications of commissioners’ outrageous conduct
On May 30, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fulfilled its final installment of records due to the Sportsmen’s Alliance from a September 2023 public records request concerning the communications of four state fish and wildlife commissioners. Though the total number of records received was just a fraction of the 477,000 identified records, the Sportsmen’s Alliance has been astounded at what they have uncovered so far – and now the watchdog organization is sharing that information with the public.
“Violations of open meetings laws are rampant. Collusion with animal extremists on policy matters. Exclusion of tribal co-managers on matters which they’re legally bound to consult. It’s all here and the level of disregard for the law and citizens is outrageous,” said Todd Adkins, Senior Vice President of Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Washington residents deserve transparent government decision-making, not backroom deals catering to and promoting a fringe belief system.”
While the Sportsmen’s Alliance will dig through the tens of thousands of unearthed records, they have launched a webpage to highlight examples of egregious violations.
“You’re going to want to bookmark this page as everything we documented in our petition to Gov. Ferguson and on social media has been indexed here, and new documents will be revealed as we find them,” said Brian Lynn, Sportsmen’s Alliance Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “As a resident of the state, it’s important for Washington citizens to see just how underhanded these commissioners conduct business.”
The webpage contains videos explaining how commissioners attempted to circumvent the law, how they promised anti-hunters that they would “get to” duck hunting and how they colluded with extreme animal-rights organizations to shape policy in Washington.
On May 16, the Sportsmen’s Alliance formally petitioned newly elected Gov. Ferguson for the removal of Commissioners Barbara Baker, Lorna Smith, Melanie Rowland and John Lehmkuhl based upon a portion of the illegal activities found in emails turned over after the organization filed a lawsuit compelling their release.
“The hubris of these four commissioners is jaw dropping. Their contempt for the public and laws of Washington should scare anyone interested in open, transparent government,” said Adkins. “This is just the beginning. The Sportsmen’s Alliance promised to fight for the state’s hunters, anglers and citizens, and that’s exactly what we plan to do.”
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler, and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.