Who’s Your President?

[Outdoor Talk Network by Jim Slinsky]
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Who’s Your President? ©

By Jim Slinsky
01/19/08

Few of us think of our life and times as a snapshot of history, but it is. What we have witnessed and survived will be revisited and discussed by generations to come. Some of the players embroiled in our current controversies will be recorded in the history books quite fondly, others certainly will not.

As a little piece of this historical story unfolding right before our eyes something unprecedented recently occurred. Mr. Stephen Mohr, former PGC Game Commissioner has been elected as President of the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania (USP). In all of my readings and investigations, I can not find where this has ever happened before. Think about that. A Game Commissioner coming off the PGC Board of Commissioners gets elected to the largest, fastest growing sportsman’s advocacy group in the state. It says volumes about the convictions and intentions of Steve Mohr, the man, and the direction of the USP. His insight and experience will certainly prove invaluable.

Interestingly, there is another piece of presidential history unfolding right before eyes. Ms. Roxanne Palone, a current PGC Commissioner is seeking the Presidency for her last year as a Commissioner. There is some tradition involved in her bid. Generally, outgoing Commissioners are elected President so history will record for a brief period that he or she in this case, was President. This is really about egos and there have been exceptions for various reasons.

I can not speak for you, but frankly I am having trouble with this tradition or shall we say, “right of passage” to the Presidency. The PGC Board of Commissioners is supposed to be a functioning, managerial body making sound decisions for our wildlife, sporting class and all the people of PA. The President is a critical position, one which can influence and alter the dialog and debate of the entire Board. These factors are far more critical than tradition.

Let us continue our honesty by revisiting Ms. Palone’s history. She was controversial before she ever became a Commissioner. She was a forester employed by the federal government working out of West Virginia. Debate raged over this perceived conflict of interest. Of course, who can forget her sarcasm and condescending words toward hunters at PGC meetings. Her anti-hunting remarks to a classroom of students at Penn State University were another revealing occurrence. The letter I received from her attorney threatening legal action if I wrote about her again was yet, another classy statement. Disregarding her forays into the unprofessional, Ms. Palone has been a leading proponent along with Commissioners Russ Schleiden and Greg Isabella for the necessity to eradicate our deer herd. Her stance hasn’t changed in seven years and now she wants to be President of the Commission.

Her role in the recent violation of Commissioner Tom Boop’s civil rights is another stellar example of her performance as a Commissioner. You certainly remember that fiasco. Commissioner Tom Boop was removed as President for a brief period for expressing his displeasure for the current deer management plan. Ms. Palone quickly assumed the position of President with pomp and the glow of victory. The entire matter was an embarrassing debacle and Commissioner Tom Boop was reinstated after statewide outrage bounced off the walls of our legislators’ offices.

Of all of her transgressions into the ridiculous, there is one that stands above the rest. Commissioner Roxanne Palone has blocked her incoming emails. I have received this complaint from across the state. I believe she changed her email a while back and has not given out the new address. This is absurd behavior for a PGC Commissioner. Obviously, she doesn’t want to hear from our so-called Neanderthals carrying .30-30’s. Obviously, no one explained to her listening to the people is her number one responsibility as a Commissioner.

I wrote this column because the state is ablaze with this discussion. The Unified Sportsmen of PA does not support her for President. Actually, I can not find support for her Presidency outside of the USP, either. Ms. Rosanne Palone may have just burned too many bridges during her tenure as a PGC Commissioner to become President.

History does not forget. It records our words and actions for all posterity for all to revisit and reminisce. I can not tell you what to do in these critical times. I can only inform you. With that admission it is quite appropriate to ask you a question.

Who’s your President?

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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