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Alaska wildlife chief appointment raises new questions at Fish and GameOPINION: After a spate of euphoria, Alaska Division of Wildlife Conservation employees have once again adopted the downcast gaze and shuffling gait of inmates in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Last week’s exaggerated state of bliss and well-being was occasioned by the resignation of their director, Corey Rossi. Rossi, who was neither popular nor qualified for his position, has been indicted on 12 Class A misdemeanors, mostly for falsifying information on official records reporting harvests of four black bears, all before he was appointed director. Recurrence of the symptoms of dysphoria, after a two-week remission, was triggered by the announcement that Doug Vincent-Lang would be new acting director. Cora Campbell, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, appointed Vincent-Lang on Jan. 25 to replace interim acting director Dale Rabe. Rabe has a doctoral degree and plenty of experience in wildlife conservation, including his current position as the division's deputy director. Vincent-Lang is a fisheries biologist who was chosen during the administration of Gov. Sarah Palin to be a special assistant to the commissioner of Fish and Game. He soon became the state’s endangered species coordinator. Alaska has no endangered fish. Species on the federal endangered and threatened list include four birds, eight whales, Steller sea lion, northern sea otter, polar bear, wood bison, three sea turtles, and the Aleutian shield fern, none of which Vincent-Lang knows much about. However, he has a penchant for doing what his supervisors tell him, and that skill has been increasingly marketable in the Department of Fish and Game ever since Frank Murkowski became governor in 2002. In her email informing wildlife conservation staff about Vincent-Lang’s appointment, Campbell wrote, "Recent events serve to emphasize the importance of upholding public trust in the department and the integrity and credibility of our staff." And then she misspelled his name: "Doug-Vincent Lang." I wish Campbell meant what she said about the importance of upholding public trust in the department and the integrity and credibility of her staff, but her background, experience and handling of recent events suggest otherwise. Like Vincent-Lang, Campbell was a special assistant for several years, reporting directly to Palin and Parnell. Before that she was a lobbyist for a commercial fishing organization. Before that she obtained a degree in education. Before that, well, she was in high school. Campbell is a little over 30 years old. I’m not saying a 30-year-old is unqualified to head one of the state’s most professional and inherently controversial agencies. I mean, Napoleon Bonaparte was 31 years old when he wrested control of the French empire. One can pack a lot of experience and wisdom into 31 years. Unfortunately, Campbell seems to be light on the kind of professional education and experience that is critical in a commissioner of Fish and Game -- she had none that I'm aware of when Gov. Parnell appointed her, a little over a year ago. Like Vincent-Lang, Campbell’s primary qualification is her ability to say yes to the person who signs her annual performance evaluation. If she can think for herself and think on her feet, she has kept those assets well hidden. As commissioner of Fish and Game, she has shown little interest or inclination to engage in wildlife management, leaving that chore to Rossi.
You nailed them right in the forehead. Precisely. Thanks, Rick, for telling it like it is. Even someone who thinks Parnell is the greatest thing since sliced bread, should wonder why his administration is so averse to hiring people actually educated in wildlife management. Does Parnell hire a barber to put fillings in his teeth? A janitor to give him medical exams? The State deserves better. The choice makes sense if you have a bunker mentality. Only the small group can be trusted. T hat's pretty much Parnell's view on other natural resource issues as well: can't have coastal zone management becuase the enemies might get a say or chulitna coal or pebble. You certainly can't waste time trying to compromise with people you disagree with. Too bad we can't put DVL under a gag order. All the charges against Rossi are misdemeanor crimes. There is no indictment in this case. There was no grand jury. What fantasy world is Mr. Sinnott living in? Why does he keep saying there is an indictment? This is just as bad (if not worse) than the legal reporting that is regularly published in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . GoldenHeart, You seem to have a problem seeing the forest for the trees. I noticed a grammatical error in the piece, but that doesn't diminish the message. Thanks rick for another great piece. It truly is sad to see what has become of the department over the years. You are quite right on your comments about doug vincent lang. Having a fish statistician in charge of wildlife just shows how small and insular the leadership of the department continues to be. It is a perfect match with a commissioner who knows nothing about management and boards run by yahoos. I'm afraid nothing will change either until we change governors but I hope I'm wrong. Rick , I really appreciate someone standing up and telling the truth. The Board of Game has given Alaska a black eye. It is time for a drastic change in the system , from the top down and it starts with Parnell. I only have one vote, but it will never be for him. I'm thinking the Alaska Dispatch should change its name to the Rick Sinnott Soapbox. His regular whining about Corey Rossi was bad enough, but now he's going after Rossi's replacement suggesting Doug Vincent Lang (DVL) isn't qualified to manage the Division of Wildlife Conservation because he was originally a Fisheries Biologist. Sinnott then disingenuously stoops to an even lower non sequitor when he suggests that DVL's previous position as the Department's endangered species coordinator lacks credibility because Alaska has no endangered fish. Huh? The "yes men" suggestion that any state employee should not do what their supervisors directs them to do would result in nothing short of insubordination on the employee's part. That Sinnott astonishingly recommends insubordination rather than cooperation (i.e., being a "yes man") as the responsible state employee's duty is quite out of place. Refusing orders doesn't work in a manufacturing plant, the military, or the Division of Wildlife Conservation, yet Sinnott suggests that following orders equates to being a "yes man" and is somehow inappropriate in government. But in his years with the Department Sinnott was a "yes man," so where does he get off accusing those above his rank with the same charge? In reality it doesn't matter whether it is a biologist, the Director, or the Commissioner. They are all subordinates and are expected to carry out the duties assigned to them by their supervisors. Any state employee who doesn't want to carry out the expectations of their supervisor and what is written in their position description should find another job. In the end the ultimate "supervisors" that determine the direction of wildlife management in Alaska are the Constitution, statutes, and regulations, not ideologically disenchanted wildlife biologists like Sinnott who forget or ignore the Constitution and the Intensive Management Law. Whether or not you think Cora Campbell or Doug Vincent Lang are qualified for their positions, the test is whether or not they follow the Constitution, statutes, regulations, and their human supervisors. Contrary to Sinnott's accusations, Commissioner Campbell has been true to her oath of office in that regard. I believe Doug Vincent Lang has already proved himself as meeting that standard as well. Sinnott has had enough air time. For Alaska Dispatch's credibility's sake let's hear opinion pieces (not just comments) from biologists or others with an opposing viewpoint to Sinnott's. It's time the Dispatch starts at least appearing to be impartial and air both sides. There's a reason why someone coined the term "yes man" and why it is generally recognized. Some people don't or won't think for themselves. Obviously, most organizations are structured so that some people lead and others follow. But it's not as simplistic as you seem to think. Given your perspective the Nazis were correct to follow Hitler's orders to kill Jews, gypsies, and other innocent groups of people. Lt. Calley's men, according to your theory of supervisor-employee relationships, were duty bound to kill Vietnamese women and kids when he gave that order. Of course, most governmental directives aren't as extreme as those examples. And I'm not implying that our governor is anything like Hitler or Lt. Calley. Most of the time one's supervisors make sense, and it certainly behooves employees to be team players as much as possible. However, subordinates should question authority like everyone else. Wildlife biologists and many professionals have a code of ethics that requires them to say no to wacky, unethical, and dangerous ideas. Frankly, I don't think an organization comprised entirely of "yes men" would be very successful. Rick Sinnott If you think Cora Campbell has been true to "her oath". You obviously don't know what the commissioner of ADF&G is supposed to do. Making decisions that affect the short and long-term health and stability of Alaska's fish and wildlife populations and their habitats based on political whims is as far from discharging her duty as one could get. I so much appreciate the credible voice of Rick Sinnott. So far, wildlife management in Alaska has been provided by the Boone and Crockett, hook and bullet club types like Rod Arno. Lets have more from Rick Sinnott and John Toppenberg and Vic Van Ballenberg. Ok, I see a lot of ragging of Rick Sinnott going on but all he's saying is the truth. Sorry if the truth hurts. Ever since Frank Murkowski was Governor we haven't had a balanced Fish and Wildlife board. It's all about killing all the predators so we can hunt, hunt, hunt and let all those big money outside folks come and get a trophy. There has to be balance and killing off all the predators and endangered animals is not the way to do it. AND Rick is right about Murkowski, Palin and Parnell just putting "Yes Men or Women" in positons. They don't want anyone who has a differing veiw. They want us to all be good little Stepford Wives. If this keeps up we will no longer be the last frontier with all these wonderful animals that most of the lower 48 states killed off.....because we will have done the same. BALANCE people, BALANCE! I have to give credit to Rick for contributing his views in full view of the public - and not hiding behind some username that protects the anonymity of people and allows them to cut others down. In this case, I think Rick is stretching. There is obviously some angst between Rick and his former employer (ADFG) and that angst is becoming a consistent theme in all of his articles. Another consistent theme is that ADFG is now run by ideological extremists, but couldn't that be said of Rick as well? While on the opposite end of the spectrum, Rick has strong beliefs about predator control yet seems intolerant of those views that run counter to his own. Rossi is an easy target. It is easy to refocus the predator control debate by switching the argument from science to the ethical shortcomings of an appointee. Yet the real debate about predator control continues. Look at the 40-mile country. Caribou and Moose populations have/are rebounding due to predator control and habitat enhancement due to recent forest fires. There is a place for predator control, yet the only voices we tend to hear are the extremists from both sides. Unfortunately, Rick is letting his past issues with his former employer push him to the opposite extreme of people like Rossi. Rick has a lot to add. But arrogance can often get the best of the most intellectual individuals. It is easy to shout, "I told you so" every time someone fails. It is much harder to seek consensus and focus on the goal instead of an individual. We used to do that in Alaska... And I don't want to hide behind some cheesy username. So if it doesn't pop up, my name is Leon Morgan. Thank you for the opportunity to spout my opinion. If Rick Sinnot says Doug Vincent-Lang is bad, then Doug Vincent-Lang must be ok. Eat moose, ten thousand wolves can't be wrong. Sadly, many of the scientists and professional civil servants do a remarkable job only to have their efforts truncated as their results pass through the political-corporate directorship. Public trust is gained only when policy follows where the facts and conclusions of science take them, not where the directorship has political interests. Thanks for making such a salient point! It does fit with what seems to be happening these days. It certainly brings to mind the now infamous 'hockey stick' climate graph. I appreciate you bringing up the point. Cora is scrambling to find any one who will take direction from the Governor.... Cora her self was selected because she is a good yes person, and will do any thing the Governor tells her to do ..... Dale Rabe is highly qualified as was Doug Larson who was Director of Wildlife Conservation, previous to Cory Rossi. Doug Larson was ruddily thrown aside by Governor Parnell to install Cory Rossi. Dale Rabe must have an ethic that precludes him from taking direction from the minority, Alaskan millionaires, and their non-resident sport hunting organizations as Rossi would. Think about it....Parnell is an attorney who can barely tell a moose from a caribou.... he is much better at lobbying for oil corporations. He and his uneducated sport hunting constancy want to run the Division of Wildlife Conservation..... science just gets in the way. The pool of real wildlife scientists with ethics dries up...if the Director of WIldlife Conservation is responsible for poor and liable decisions made in the back room of Parnell's office. I am actually encouraged that we do have so many ethical biologist that are not willing to participate, and are not applying. To run the Division of Wildlife Conservation remote control, you need people that do not know to much about wildlife, like the Governor and his cronies, and those ADF&G officials need to shut up and do what they are told.... Wahla ....We have Cora Campbell, and Doug Vincent-Lang....good soldiers, and nice people...but not the Generals Alaskans deserve running Wildlife Conservation and ADF&G.... Parnell and his friends need to get out of the kitchen they are spoiling the soup.... Nice Rick hit piece once again. He really has a large axe to grind down. I wonder when he will finally let some of that anger go. It still amazes me that he whines about qualifications and experience when even he didn't even know how many bears he had in Anchorage as the area bioligist. Maybe he needed more qualifications and experience. And he still goes on about how Rossi wasn't put on administrative leave or fired when they found out he was being investigated. Maybe he should read some of the articles in the Alaska Dispatch that discussed how the Troopers didn't want to tip anyone off and asked that it be kept quiet while they investigated. Grind away Rick. Eventually you will let it go. The usual "attack the messenger" ploy of the loyal Republican Dictatorship devoid of any true disputing of the relevant issues presented. Thanks for a dead on portrait. Most ADF&G employees have a favorite DV-L story. Mine comes from my time in the Division of Subsistence. A co-worker was trimming a plant and putting the dead leaves in the trash can. DV-L walked in and said, "Wait, you could be saving that for a subsistence family!" This comment exemplifies the arrogance and ignorance of DV-L and his cohort. Sinnott wrote: "My concern about Vincent-Lang's qualifications isn't as much about him as it is about the commissioner and governor." Ditto. Wow - I didn't think ADF&G had any polar bear 'experts'. Can anyone cite the polar bear studies the State has done? I don't believe there are any. With no hunting allowed, and ploar bears have no predators, and no development ( very little) is allowed in their habitat, what could be affecting the population of polar bears? Nothing at the moment. As Walter Hickel wrote; "Who Owns America?" Fish and Game Management, shown best in Political Science from Petersburg Packing, where as long as you attend the Church, of the latter day robbers, you appointed, annointed, and a thief using the full support of the Department of NO Law, the Alaska State Troopers, and another little secret shown best at Petersburg Packing. Vote Governor PP forever...explained by Walter Hickel, where his theory of the EPA, and Endangered Species Act, and the other endangered species, in every office of ADF&G...or...a Federal Prison. Mirror Mirror on the Wall, who the fairest Queen of All? Can someone ask Cora Campbell, how her friends get paid off using federal loan dollars to shrink a S.E. Alaska Seine Fleet, after the biggest season on record, with no Official CFEC Optimum Number Study Required, as written in the Statute Book? Honestas Optima Politia? I know Doug can do the job right and I hope he chooses to. He used to stand for good solid science based decisions in Sport Fish - lets hope he resumes that now; pay check and politics be dammed. But I did wonder how he could sleep nights when he was carrying the water on the state's polar bear position. Cora if you want to do good for ADFG and Alaskans, backup your folks and let them get back to science. Dano, I hope you're right about Doug. He does have scientific credentials at least. But Cora Campbell has proved to be a poor manager. She has more experience as a political lackey than a leader of a highly educated and dedicated workforce such as ADFG boasts. She should step down. Outstanding reporting Rick! Sad to see a formerly reputable and highly respected agency like ADFG become politicized by hacks, yes men (and women)and game law violators. Shame on the governor, and shame on the Board of Game. Parnells cowardly handling of the Rossi ordeal is exemplary of this administration. Keep quiet lest incriminate oneself. Cambell needs to instill integrity in the organization, not funnel the top down bs which is polluting ADFG policy. Perhaps Sinnott would be happier if Dr Gershon Cohen of Haines were appointed? He alleges that he possesses one of those highly desirable "degree's". Wow Rick...you really don't like anyone at ADF&G. Sounds like everyone there is totally incompetent. Too bad you retired because you were the only one that was capable over there to do his job. Even if that meant killing moose calves and bear cubs. |
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