Posted by
Ron Devito on Friday, July 24, 2009 10:22:05 PM
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