New York Assemblyman Alexander “Pete” Grannis has been nominated by Governor Eliot Spitzer to head the Department of Environmental Conservation in the state of New York. The DEC also oversees the operation of all fish and wildlife functions and many hunters, trappers and fishermen aren’t taking to kindly to his nomination.
“He doesn’t know anything about trapping,” said Rich Davenport, a Buffalo-based hunter, fisher, and trapper who started an online petition opposing the nomination that has collected more than 3,500 signatures in three weeks. “It’s kind of scary to have a guy like that in charge of the DEC.”
“This guy is anti-guns, anti-everything,” said Martin Golden, a Republican senator from Brooklyn.
Mr. Grannis says he isn’t anti-hunting.
“I’m certainly not anti-hunting,” Mr. Grannis told the Sun. “I’ve never been anti-hunting.”
But Grannis admits he knows nothing about trapping and has his reservations about it.
Grannis is blaming the controversy on Republicans and he made some interesting comments in regard to that.
Mr. Grannis said the Senate has an “obligation to review my nomination” and suggested that Republicans were stonewalling for political reasons. “What they are focusing on is stuff beyond my qualifications,” saying Republican opposition to his confirmation may have to do “with this continuing feud between the governor and the Legislature.”
He said if the Senate delays, he would consider resigning his Assembly seat and assuming the role of acting commissioner of the department.
I’m not exactly sure I understand what he means by saying the republicans are “focusing on stuff beyond my qualifications”. If he is referring to his knowledge and experience with hunting, fishing and trapping as being beyond his qualifications, then New York might be in some serious trouble.
Although the position of head of the Department of Environmental Conservation covers more than hunting, fishing and trapping, one does have to wonder if this is the best candidate for the position. You decide.
Tom Remington
