DCNR Intervenes in PGC Commissioner Selection Process

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DCNR Intervenes in PGC Commissioner Selection Process ©

By Jim Slinsky
03/24/07

What started as a rumor waiting to be confirmed has become a political disaster. DCNR Secretary Mike DeBerardinis is now selecting the PGC Commissioner candidate to be sent to the Senate for confirmation. The Governor is in the middle of the process, but has evolved into a mere rubber stamp of Mr. DeBerardinis’ choice. A better current example of assumed authority and abuse of power escapes me.

Taking it back just a few years, Commissioner Tom Boop was not interviewed by the DCNR Secretary. Rumors that DCNR took over the process bounced off the Harrisburg walls with the confirmation of Commissioners Dan Hill and Dave Schreffler. At the time, I had my reservations. Apparently, the rumors were true. Secretary Mike DeBerardinis is making certain the PGC Board of Commissioners remains stacked with deer killers.

This time the best candidates for the vacant Northeast District were Jay Delaney and Attorney James Powell. My sources told me James “Jimmy” Powell was a shoe-in. I heard the Senate wanted some pro-deer balance put back in the Commission.

The last hurdle for these two gentlemen to overcome was an interview by DCNR Secretary Mike DeBerardinis and that is a fact. Jay Delaney answered DeBerardinis’ deer management questions with a follow the present science philosophy. Jimmy Powell supported dramatically cutting the doe allocations. Jay Delaney’s name was sent to the Senate for confirmation.

When I heard the news I called a DCNR insider and demanded an explanation. I wanted someone to show me the statutory language, Executive Order and/or the Memorandum of Understanding that grants DCNR any authority at all in the PGC Commissioner selection process. No one has called me back. Obviously, if this new process goes unchallenged there will be no deer herd or deer hunting in this state very soon.

Just prior to this playing out, State Representatives Bob Godshall and SR Tina Pickett had written legislation to cut a PGC Commissioner’s length of service from eight years to two, four year terms. A second term of four years would require Senate reconfirmation. The Unified Sportsmen of PA is working with both of these legislations to strengthen this legislation. Do you realize that four and sometimes even three Commissioners have controlled deer management over the objections of hundreds of thousands of people? The Commissioner system is obviously in desperate need of reform.

Right now we need to stop the Senate from embarrassing itself by confirming Jay Delaney and legitimizing an unauthorized power grab by DCNR. To proceed with confirmation of this politically transparent act would implicate the Senate as part of the problem and not part of the solution. Someone needs to show us where DCNR as a state agency was granted the authority to select Commissioners for the PGC, a separate and allegedly independent state agency. Never has one state agency selected commissioners for another state agency in the history of PA. I am sorry, but Jay Delaney’s name needs to be sent back to the Sportsmen’s Council.

With a sense of urgency, the entire Commissioner selection process, their length of service and a method of removing politically corrupted Commissioners needs to be written into new legislation and passed. PGC Commissioners should serve at the pleasure of the Senate, not the Governor. Every state has some degree of problems. However, PA’s inability to design and implement a fair, balanced and coherent Commissioner system is inexcusable.

With new Commissioner legislation in place we can revisit the strengths and weaknesses of Jay Delaney and Jimmy Powell. If either one turns into a flake, we can remove them or not reconfirm them for a second term.

The big question is where is the PGC’s outrage while DCNR is kicking their butt? Has a deal been cut and a merger occurred and we have not been informed? Frankly, I never thought I would live to see the day the PGC became a lap dog for another state agency.

Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Outdoor Talk Network”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program. For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at www.outdoortalknetwork.com.

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