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WE NEED GAME & FISH REFORM TO:

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COMMISSION

FIX THE STATE GAME

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More than 100 years ago, the founders of New Mexico’s conservation community wisely set up the State Game Commission as an independent governing body to shield wildlife management from political influence. 

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Today that system is broken, and we must pass reforms this session to fix it.

FOR ALL POSITIONS:

PROPOSED REFORMS:

1

Add checks and balances to ensure legislative input on Game Commission candidates

2

Make the Commission more representative of all New Mexicans

3

Maintain a balance of urban and rural interests

4

Preserve the bipartisan makeup of the Commission

5

Ensure the voices of farmers, ranchers, hunters, anglers, biologists, and wildlife conservationists are all represented

6

Establish qualifications for experience and expertise

7

Prevent qualified Commissioners from being removed without cause

8

Ensure wildlife management decisions are made by the best available science

A REFORMED STATE GAME COMMISSION WOULD INCLUDE SEVEN MEMBERS, MADE UP OF: 

THREE AT-LARGE MEMBERS

POSITIONS 1, 2, 3: 

Must possess knowledge of wildlife issues in the state

FOR ALL POSITIONS:

  • The governor would retain executive authority to appoint Commissioners

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  • No more than four Commissioners could be affiliated with the same political party

FOUR MEMBERS FROM NEW MEXICO COMMUNITIES

Position 4

A rancher or farmer

POSITION 5:

A conservationist from a nonprofit habitat or conservation organization

POSITION 6:

A hunter or angler

POSITION 7: 

An academic expert with accreditation in wildlife science

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New advisory members would serve as non-voting members of the Game Commission, including:

A new nominating committee would be charged with submitting a list of qualified Game Commissioner candidates to the governor for all appointments and vacancies. This is modeled after the processes for the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) and vacancies 
for state legislators.

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The Director of the Outdoor Recreation Division

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The Director of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture

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The New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands

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The Secretary of Indian Affairs

 THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE WOULD INCLUDE:

4 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY BIPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP:

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Minority floor leader of the House of Representatives

President Pro Tempore of the Senate

Minority floor leader of the Senate

2 MEMBERS MADE UP OF ACADEMIC EXPERTS, INCLUDING:

Chair of UNM’s Department of Biology

Chair of NMSU’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology

1 MEMBER OF AN INDIAN NATION, TRIBE OR PUEBLO, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR

21st CENTURY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT FOR NEW MEXICO:

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Update the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish’s mission

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Sustain our hunting and fishing traditions

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Fix the State Game Commission

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Improve wildlife conditions

CONTACT

Judy Calman

Audubon Southwest
judy.calman@audubon.org

Jesse Deubel

New Mexico Wildlife Federation

jesse@nmwildlife.org

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