Alaska Governor Sarah Palin [on July 24, 2009] announced appointments to the Alaska Board of Forestry, Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank, Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission, Board of Veterinary Examiners, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Interstate Compact for Supervision of Adult and Juvenile Offenders, and the Subsistence Resource Commission (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶1).
Alaska Board of Forestry
Governor Palin reappointed Rob Bosworth and Mark Vinsel to the Alaska Board of Forestry. The nine-member board’s mission includes advising the governor on state logging and forestry regulations, promoting cooperative resolution of industry-related issues, recommending areas of forestry research and suggesting improvements to state forestry laws and regulations (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶2).
Biography of Rob Bosworth
Bosworth, of Juneau, is Southeast Alaska Program director for The Nature Conservancy. He has worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, as a research analyst in the 1970s and deputy commissioner in 2002. Bosworth holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies and a master’s degree in resource management from University of California, Santa Cruz. He also received a master’s degree in marine affairs from University of Washington, Institute for Marine Studies – Emphasis on Coastal Resource Management. Bosworth was appointed to a seat representing an Environmental Organization.
Biography of Mark Vinsel
Vinsel, of Juneau, has been executive director of United Fishermen of Alaska since 2004, after serving as the industry advocacy group’s office manager from 2000-04. He served as chairman of the Alaska Commemorative Coin Commission from 2005-08, and chairman of the Alaska Fishing Industry Relief Mission from 2005-07. Vinsel earned a bachelor’s degree in design and industry from San Francisco State University. He was appointed to a seat representing the commercial fishing industry (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶3).
Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agricultural Bank
Governor Palin appointed Robert Scott to the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agricultural Bank Board of Directors (CFAB). The governor appoints two of the seven-member CFAB, which manages the assets of and selects officers to the bank. CFAB was created to address limitations to the access to credit by resident Alaska commercial seafood harvesters, processors and farmers. In 2000, CFAB’s statute was amended to expand its lending authority to include tourism- and resource-based industries (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶4).
Biography of Robert Scott
Scott, of Kenai, has been the president of Salamatof Seafoods, Inc. since 1980. Prior to that he was the senior vice president of Alaska operations for Whitney Fidalgo Seafoods, Inc. from 1972-1980. He has worked in the fishing industry since 1949. Scott serves on the Trustee Health and Welfare Plan for the International Longshore Workers Union and has served on the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, the Alaska State King Crab Quality Control Board, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and as a member of the Pelican Volunteer Fire Department. He was appointed to a seat representing a governor’s appointment (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶5).
Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission
Governor Palin reappointed Representative Bryce Edgmon to the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission. The three-member Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission was created to promote better use of marine resources, shellfish, and finfish. It develops programs for protection and prevention of waste of fisheries (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶6).
Biography of Bryce Edgmon
Edgmon, of Dillingham, represents a district that includes the Aleutian, Pribilof, and Shumagin Islands, the Alaska Peninsula, and Bristol Bay – altogether one of most productive commercial fishing regions in the world. He has held seats on the Special Committee on Fisheries and the Resources Committee, both of which are bodies that regularly scrutinize issues and legislation related to stewardship of the marine environment. Edgmon was appointed to a seat representing a legislator serving on the Resources Committee (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶7).
Board of Veterinary Examiners
Governor Palin appointed Dr. John Tuomi to the Board of Veterinary Examiners. The 5-member board is charged with regulating and controlling the application process, licenses, and permitting of veterinarians and veterinarian technicians (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶8).
Biography of John Tuomi
Tuomi, of Palmer, has worked in the veterinary industry for more than 30 years. He currently practices at the Palmer Veterinary Clinic where he has worked since 1981. Tuomi worked at Sand Lake Animal Hospital from 1979 to 1981, and the Northern Lights Animal Hospital in 1978. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in zoology from Montana State University and received his doctor of veterinary medicine from Colorado State University. Tuomi has been appointed to a seat representing a licensed veterinarian (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶9).
Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Governor Palin appointed Susan Cushing and Kristine Norbert to the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The Council provides planning and coordination of services to victims and families, as well as grant funding for qualified programs (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶10).
Biography of Susan Cushing
Cushing, of Homer, serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Homer Community Foundation where she has volunteered since 1996. She also worked as a behavioral health aide for Southcentral Foundation from 2006-2009, a wellness coordinator for the Seldovia Village Tribe Health Center from 2006-2009, and a village-based evaluator in the Cherish the Children program for Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. Cushing is appointed to a seat representing a public member (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶11).
Biography of Kristine Norbert
Norbert, of Dillingham, is a social services assistant for Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation where she has been working since 2008. Prior to that she worked as the village direct services coordinator and legal advocate for Safe and Fear-Fear Free Environment (SAFE), the women’s shelter and victim assistance agency serving the Bristol Bay region. Norbert was appointed to a seat representing a public member from a rural area (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶12).
Interstate Compact for Supervision of Adult and Juvenile Offenders
Governor Palin appointed Ron Dempsay and Joseph Gamache to the Interstate Compact for Supervision of Adult and Juvenile Offenders. The Compact oversees and advocates for the state’s participation in the Interstate Compact for Adult and Juvenile Offender Supervision. It also reviews and determines the state’s position on proposed rules from the Interstate Compact Commission (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶13).
Biography of Ron Dempsay
Dempsay, of Anchorage, is a victim’s advocate for Victims for Justice. He has served as principal of Glennallen Junior-Senior High School and as a principal in the Community School District in Mendon, IL. Dempsay holds a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Culver-Stockton College, and a master’s degree in education administration from Truman State University. He was appointed to a seat representing a public seat who represents a victims’ group (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶14).
Biography of Joseph Gamache
Gamache, of Anchorage, is an airport police officer where he has served since 2003 in various capacities including drug enforcement officer, patrol officer, and field training officer. He served on the North Slope Borough Police Department from 1995 to 2003 as a patrol sergeant and was an Alaska State Trooper in Palmer from 1993 to 1994. Gamache attended the University of Alaska and has volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America for 5 years. He was appointed to a seat representing a public member (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶15).
Subsistence Resource Commission
Subsistence Resource Commissions were established for the seven national parks or monuments created by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 where subsistence harvest of resources is allowed. The commissions prepare local subsistence hunting programs for consideration by the secretary of the U.S. Interior Department and the governor, addressing such issues as eligibility, customary and traditional use, access, impacts of development projects, and regulation of subsistence seasons, bag limits and methods and means. Each nine-member commission includes three governor’s appointments (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶17).
Governor Palin appointed Tammany Dementi-Straughn to the Subsistence Resource Commissions for the Denali National Park and Preserve (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶16).
Biography of Tammany Dementi-Straughn
Dementi-Straughn, of Cantwell, is the president of the Native Village of Cantwell and serves as a Land Protection Officer with Ahtna, Inc. Previously she served as a Denali Planning Commissioner from 2007-2009, on the Copper River Native Association Board from 2006-2007, and on the Cantwell Village Council from 2005-2007. She served on the Cantwell Village Council from 2005 to 2007. Dementi-Straughn has been appointed to a public seat (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶18).
Commentary
Governor Palin has made 123 appointments and re-appointments this year, including 116 to boards, commissions, and councils; five judicial appointments; an attorney general; and one state senate appointment. In the 205 days that have passed this year, she has averaged one appointment every 1.67 days.
References
Governor Palin makes board appointments. (2009, July 24). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved July 24, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1978
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