Governor reappoints five commissioners
Steve Windham of Winnabow was named chairman of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission at the Commission’s July 8 meeting in Raleigh.
Windham replaces Wes Seegars of Goldsboro, who became chairman after the untimely death three years ago of John Pechman of Fayetteville.
Windham, an at-large appointment by former Gov. Mike Easley, was vice chairman under Seegars and will remain on the Commission for at least four more years. Windham was reappointed July 1 to the Commission by Gov. Beverly Perdue.
The sitting governor recommends his or her choice for chairman to the commissioners, who routinely approve that pick. However, the chairman only serves a 2-year term. At the end of that time, the governor may ask that another commissioner assume the chairmanship.
“I want to thank all the commissioners,” said Windham, who owns a beverage distributorship in southeastern North Carolina.
Although Seegars will remain as a regular Commissioner until his 6-year appointment as District 3 representative expires, Windham said he intends to seek Seegars’ advice.
“I know Wes wanted to ride off into the sunset, but I plan to ride him hard,” Windham said. “I know I have some big shoes to fill, but I have some ideas I hope will move the Commission forward.”
Other commissioners re-appointed by Perdue included: Berkley Skinner III of Rocky Mount for a 4-year term as an at-large member; Nat Harris of Burlington (District 5) for a 6-year term; David Hoyle Jr. of Dallas (District 8) for a 6-year term; and Joe Barker of New Bern (District 2) for a 6-year term.
In departure comments, Seegars noted he had served as chairman during a tumultuous time.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege for me to be the chairman the last three years,” he said. “Unfortunately I attained this position with the death of John (Pechman). That first year was challenging, and I had to make a lot of tough decisions, but Fred Harris (former interim executive director) provided a lot of great leadership.”
Soon after Seegars was named chairman, he led a move that resulted in the dismissal of Richard “Dick” Hamilton as executive director of the Commission after 36 years of service, and he saw Gordon Myers of the Commission’s Engineering Services Division named new executive director.
“I’d like to thank all the Division chiefs,” Seegars said.
Seegars cited their help in creating a new rules-making process that included a committee system that studies proposed changes in game laws before they are presented to the commissioners for approval or disapproval.
“It was a pretty closed system before this,” Seegars said.
That system also opened the Commission to input or at least attendance from its “conservation partners,” that included sportsmen’s groups and individuals. However, Seegars still apparently blames some “partners,” claiming they misinformed the public about early ideas for changes in game laws that were batted around at committee meetings. When those possible changes were publicized, many sportsmen did not like them.
To remedy that problem, Seegars announced this past spring the Commission wouldn’t release the dates of committee meetings to the public, including its conservation partners. That decision drew an immediate reaction as it appeared to violate the N.C. Open Meetings Law. Seegars eventually withdrew the idea, after Gov. Perdue told all state agency heads they would hold open meetings.
Seegars, Hoyle and Windham were embroiled in another controversy when they were alleged to have told officials of the N.C. Bowhunters Association that their personal influence with the governor and other politicians could allow them to eliminate bow season entirely if the NCBA didn’t stop making waves. The NCBA responded by sending a letter to Perdue, claiming “abuse of authority” by the three Commissioners.
Hoyle was widely rumored to be in line to become chairman. Sources indicate he turned down the vice-chairman’s job, which went to commissioner Chuck Bennett, a lawyer from Matthews who represents District 6.
In other WRC news:
* The commissioners voted down a proposal to open dove season at daylight on opening day, preferring to remain with traditional noon shooting hours on opening day, then daylight-to-sunset hunting thereafter;
* In-state Canada goose season dates will be Sept. 1-30 statewide with a 15-bird bag limit with shooting hours staring 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, use of unplugged shotguns and electronic calls. Because of the early Sept. teal season, these regulations won’t apply east of U.S. 17;
* Teal season dates are Sept. 12-30, with a 4-bird limit east of U.S. 17;
* N.C. falconers will be able to live trap at total of three peregrine falcons statewide for training purposes Sept. 20-Oct. 20 during the fall migratory flight. Two of the birds will be taken only by state residents, while residents of another state may apply for the remaining one permit along with resident falconers. A drawing will determine who gets the permits.
Myers spoke of four laws passed by the General Assembly that involve fish or wildlife: $10 extra tags for two antlerless deer; a law that exempts special-event participants (Youth Fishing Days, handicapped draw hunts) from needing hunting or fishing licenses; the Commission gaining statutory authority to set migratory gamebird seasons, allow unplugged shotguns and rule on electronic calls; and increasing the allowable sizes of Conibear underwater traps.
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