Three New Board of Forestry Members

Capitol Press
Posted: Monday, February 13, 2012 1:58 PM
 
Forestry board appointees confirmed

SALEM -- By a 19-11 vote, the Oregon Senate has approved the appointment of fisheries scientist Cindy Williams to the Oregon Board of Forestry.

The confirmation came despite objections from several natural resources organizations.
Williams, a private consultant, formerly worked for environmental organizations.

The Senate confirmed Tom Insko and Nils Christoffersen to the board by unanimous votes.
Insko is inland region manager for Boise Cascade. Christoffersen is executive director of Wallowa Resources, a nonprofit that works to restore forest health and create job opportunities.

The three replace Peter Hayes, Calvin Mukumoto and Jennifer Phillipi on the seven-member board.

Phillippi served two terms. Hayes and Mukumoto completed their first term on Sept. 30, 2011.

Hayes was available for reappointment to a second term, according to reports, but Kitzhaber chose to go a different direction, according to Richard Whitman, Kitzhaber's natural resources policy advisor.

"There was some significant opposition to Peter," Whitman said. "We tried to bring a slate of nominees that would draw a broader consensus of support, and we feel this slate does that."
Whitman said the three new board members bring a strong eastside perspective to the board, as well as a scientific perspective.

In an interview Feb. 10, Williams acknowledged she has worked for conservation groups. But, she said, she also has consulted for irrigation districts.

"I've done work under contract on all sides of the issues," she said.

"I feel like I have developed the ability to hear everybody's concerns," she said.

Asked by Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield, her philosophy about logging, she said: "It is one of many uses we can get from a healthy forest, and it certainly is a legitimate purpose of forestland."

In a floor speech Feb. 13, Beyer said the appointees had backing from the Oregon Forest Industries Council and the Oregon Small Woodland Association.

Three days earlier, OSWA signed onto a letter sent to the Senate Rules Committee that opposed Williams' appointment. The letter also was signed by the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Cattlemen's Association, the Association of Oregon Loggers and Oregonians for Food and Shelter.

(Thanks to Ann Forest Burns)