NCWRC’s co-chair out, replaced by congressman’s campaign director

Gov. Beverly Perdue tags Hayden Rogers for final open slot on North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Gov. Beverly Perdue made the last of her appointments to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission last week, naming Robbinsville’s Hayden Rogers – chief of staff for the office of Heath Shuler, a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rogers, who will represent District 9, which includes 12 counties in the extreme southwestern corner of North Carolina, replaces Martin Lewis of Asheville who had been elected vice chairman of the Commission at its meeting in July despite being at the end of his 6-year term.

“It was just a case of bad timing,” Commission chairman David Hoyle Jr. said of Lewis’s short stint as second-in-command on the 19-member board. “We have to elect a chair and vice-chair (in July), so we elected Martin. I have no idea why the governor delayed in naming Hayden.

“It was unfortunate for Martin because I think he would have been a good vice-chairman, but we didn’t have any control over this (situation).”

Ray White of Nags Head, who represents District 1 (northeastern North Carolina) was elected vice chairman.

North Carolina Sportsman learned that new member John Coley IV, named to the Commission in June, had enough support to be named vice-chairman, but Hoyle asked him to withdraw in favor of White, which Coley did.

One agency source said that Martin’s appointment as vice chairman was basically in recognition of his service on the Commission.

Eugene Price of Goldsboro, whose 24 years as a commissioner ended this summer, was puzzled by the turn of events.

“Martin Lewis was a good commissioner, and I was happy to see him as vice-chairman,” said Price, former editor of the Goldsboro News-Argus. “He was a serious hunter, so he had some experience in game issues. I was hoping to see him as chairman of the Commission one day and told him so.

“He didn’t have an agenda when he came onto the Commission, but I can’t say that for everybody who has been appointed.”

Besides the swearing-in of new members, the Commission also approved at its meeting a temporary rule that will allow hunters to take wild hogs in all 100 counties on private lands and game lands whenever there is an open season for other game animals.

Currently, hunting of swine and coyotes is permitted; that will end Oct. 1 when HB 432 becomes effective. The Commission’s temporary rule will allow hunters to continue to take swine and coyotes after Oct. 1, but not at night.