Kellogg/Baylis Resign from CA Fish & Game Commission
By Gaines and Associates
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Editor’s Note: Gaines and Associates advocates on hunting and gun rights issues.
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First, allow us to wish you and yours a Happy New Year. But we must follow by noting that we are not off to a very “happy” start.It is with great concern that we must inform you that Jim Kellogg has resigned from his seat on the California Fish and Game Commission effective yesterday, December 31, 2015.
In a private conversation over two weeks ago, mentioned that he was planning on resigning. Unfortunately, ensuing efforts to get him to change his mind were unsuccessful. Jim tendered his brief resignation letter to the Governor on December 20th. A copy of his resignation letter is attached.
Jim told us that his decision was largely due to frustration over the liberal direction the Commission was heading. To prove his point, Jim cited some recent landmark actions — including the state listing of the gray wolf and the statewide ban on bobcat trapping — where, in a majority vote, the Commission went against science, DFW recommendation and conservation interests.
An avid hunter and angler, Jim was first appointed to the Commission in late January 2002. He was reappointed to a six year term in March 2006, and to a third term in April 2012. Throughout his 14 years on the Commission, Jim was a solid strong vote in support of hunters, anglers and science-based wildlife management. Without question, Jim’s resignation from the Commission will have a substantial negative impact on future regulatory decisions of concern to the hunting, fishing and wildlife conservation community.
Commission President Jack Baylis has also tendered his resignation to the Governor — presumably effective when his term expires on January 15, 2016. Unlike Kellogg, Baylis often voted in favor of decisions which negatively impacted the hunting and conservation community — including the two controversial decisions noted above. Until just recently, Baylis was believed to be seeking a reappointment to his seat.
These two sudden surprise resignations — combined with the recent sudden resignation of Commission Executive Director Sonke Mastrup — leaves the future leaning of the Commission, and its critical regulatory decisions, very much in doubt.
Filling these two vacant Commission seats with the appointment of individuals who support science-based wildlife management and recognize the importance of hunting and fishing to wildlife conservation will be a top priority of Gaines & Associates in the coming months.
On a related note, although the Commission seats are filled by an appointment by the Governor, the Executive Director Position is filled by a decision of the seated Commissioners. The Commission’s legal counsel will fill Sonke’s position on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is selected by the Commission.
For an inside look at the reasons behind Jim Kellogg’s surprising decision to resign, watch for his full interview in the January 8th issue of Western Outdoor News.
Gaines & Associates will continue to keep you closely apprised of all noteworthy developments.
Gaines & Associates
Government Relations
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This will play right into the anti-gun zealots play book. Expect more “no fishing zones” around our channel islands and coastal area’s. Expect more animals on a “protected” status regardless o the fact that they aren’t endangered. There is no shortage of mountain lions, just a shortage of carry capacity. If anything, that should be a reason to hunt them to cull their population to a manageable level.
With less hunting there will be more gun laws restricting ownership.
We now are in a drought and “environmentally purposed” water is 50% of all water resources in California. Expect more “wild” rivers where fresh water resources just run out to the ocean with the mythical expectations that salmon and steelhead will return.