Jan. 16–BOISE — Joan Hurlock has fished all her life. She remembers accompanying her father on some of his outings as a California Fish and Game commissioner, and playing in the woods near her house with her dog. This fall, she took her son on an elk hunt.
But is that enough to qualify her to serve on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission?
On Monday, the Senate Resources and Conservation Committee held a confirmation hearing for Hurlock, whom Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter appointed to the Fish and Game Commission. The hearing focused largely on Hurlock’s qualifications and experience, with senators quizzing her on her beliefs and sportsmen testifying for and against her.
Hurlock is the second female Fish and Game Commission appointee in the state’s history. A California native, Hurlock has lived in Buhl for 10 years. She is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and a former member of Ducks Unlimited and the Audubon Society.
Hurlock has faced criticism for being a California native and for not getting a hunting license every year she has lived in Idaho.
“As children, we don’t get to choose where we were born and where we were raised,” she said during the confirmation hearing. But, she emphasized, as an adult she chose to live in Idaho, largely because of its outdoor opportunities.
Committee members grilled Hurlock on her views on wolves, ATVs, private property access and salmon. Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, pointed out that this type questioning wasn’t normal for gubernatorial appointees.
“We don’t do this with all the people in front of us,” she said. “I appreciate your time and patience with this.”
Accusations, Criticisms of Process
Members of the public came to testify for and against Hurlock, including supporter Billee Dinges of Castleford.
“I felt that when there was literature being passed around that was negative and underhanded, it was time to get involved,” Dinges said, referring to a flier distributed to lawmakers that reads Hurlock “should have never passed as one being remotely qualified for the position.”
Sportsmen Chantelle and Jevon Benson of Jerome testified against the appointment, saying they didn’t feel she was qualified to be a commissioner.
“I know that many feel that this is men versus women, but it’s really not,” Chantelle Benson said. Doug Palmer of Twin Falls agreed, saying her appointment was “a great injustice.”
“She doesn’t understand the issues and we don’t have time to train her, so she would not be fit for appointment,” Palmer said.
Barbs weren’t reserved for Hurlock.
Jack Oyler, who served on the selection committee that considered candidates, accused the governor’s staff of withholding recommendation letters for other candidates and ordering members of the interview committee to recommend Joan Hurlock to the governor. Bonnie Butler, senior special assistant to the governor, shook her head at the accusations and mouthed “No” from the audience. (Later, she explained one late-arriving letter didn’t get into the binders, but was distributed to committee members. She also emphasized that no one was ordered to recommend Hurlock.)
Dyke Nally, chairman of the selection committee, defended the process and pointed out that all candidates went through a rigorous interview process.
“The process is more sophisticated now and more structured than it ever has been,” Nally said.
The Senate committee will vote on the appointment at its Wednesday meeting. Regardless of how the committee votes, the appointment will go to the Senate floor for the body as a whole to consider. While the Senate committee can’t vote down an appointment, they can pass on the confirmation with no recommendation.
After the Monday meeting, Hurlock said she is glad to have the opportunity to rebut the information being spread about her.
“I just wanted to be heard and given a fair shot at it,” she said.