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Document 3 of 73.

October 9, 2000, Monday

SECTION: Local; Ed. Final; Pg. 20A

LENGTH: 781 words

HEADLINE: GEORGE SETS PRIORITIES AS WILDLIFE DIRECTOR
WHIRLING DISEASE, PREDATOR CONTROL, SMOOTH-RUNNING AGENCY TOP LIST

BYLINE: By Gary Gerhardt, News Staff Writer

BODY:

The moment Russell George sat behind the desk at his new job as director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, he was ready to start handling hard problems.

Three weeks later, the former House speaker is already tackling a number of contentious issues head-on.

One of the largest is whirling disease, a parasite infestation threatening the state's rainbow trout.

"I believe we must bite the bullet on the whirling disease issue and implement the wildlife commission's policy calling for all fish released in state streams to be clean of whirling disease," he said. "This could hurt some private hatcheries that can't come up to code, but I think we can make some exemptions for those that simply need more time to come up to code."

Another issue is predator control, which has frustrated ranchers, sportsmen and environmentalists alike. George wants to tap into the best research available and move ahead quickly.

"If the science dictates that we (the wildlife agency) should take over control of predators in order to increase deer herds, I would propose pilot projects in specific areas so we could assess their effectiveness before making anything a general policy."

Then there's the Division of Wildlife itself. George wants to transform it from what many say is a halting, uncertain agency that has been taking unfair abuse, into the smooth-running, effective and credible agency it once was.

"I have a couple of things to do quickly," George said. "One is to get things calmed down around here. These people have been through a lot of change with a management review that restructured the agency.

"Everywhere the staff turns today, they feel they are getting chewed out by somebody."

More issues await:

* TABOR limits: making the wildlife division an "enterprise" agency so it won't be so hamstrung by the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights.

At present, increases in hunting and fishing licenses must be offset by spending cuts in unrelated state programs.

* Watchable wildlife: finding other funding sources for non-game, endangered species and watchable wildlife programs other than relying almost solely on money from hunting and fishing licenses.

* Peacekeeping: looking for common ground among such diverse groups as hunters, anglers, outfitters, agricultural interests, non-game enthusiasts and animal-rights groups that have clashed in the past.

But the challenges don't end there. Hovering above all is the legislature.

"There's a lot of ill feelings in the legislature toward the wildlife division," George said.

"You can't change something that has been building for years in just a couple of days, but I need to start creating a climate so legislators don't drive this agency. Individuals (lawmakers) will always protect their own interests, but we have to move beyond that."

The 54-year-old Harvard Law School graduate may have the best shot at pulling it off. He spent eight years in the House representing the Western Slope before taking over the division.

He already has earned the respect of a few keen observers.

"I think Russ George is very candid discussing his goals for the agency. I believe he also will be very good at building consensus among all of the diverse groups interested in wildlife," said Diane Gansauer, executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation.

"He projects a willingness to listen and if he supports the division staff, he will be a good director," said Jim McKee of the Colorado Wildlife Alliance.

"I think Russ brings tremendously valuable people and public-involvement skills, and the processes for making decisions," said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited.

Despite these plaudits, George says he knows that the desk he sits behind is the epicenter of a variety of groups that have their own agendas, most often conflicting.

Hunters want to stalk more game animals while animal-rights groups want less killing.

Non-game advocates want a place to promote watchable wildlife programs that require funds from game and fishing licenses.

Landowners and the agricultural community want compensation for damages and ways to protect livestock from the same animals that hunters and non- hunters are trying to preserve.

Forming coalitions among traditionally warring factions is something the former House speaker believes is his forte.

"Some in the legislature said I was too soft because I didn't assert myself enough as speaker," George said. "Rather than pounding the gavel a lot, I like to watch everything very carefully, let others work things out on their own and only step in if absolutely necessary."

NOTES:
Contact Gary Gerhardt at (303) 892-5202 or at gerhardtg@RockyMountainNews.com.

GRAPHIC: Photo
Division of Wildlife director Russell George, shown in this 1999 photo when he was House speaker, says he knows that the desk he sits behind is the epicenter of a variety of groups that have their own agendas. By David Zalubowski / Associated Press. FILE: ARCHIVE

LOAD-DATE: October 11, 2000

Document 3 of 73.


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