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Senate Fish, Game and Forestry committee reappoints members and selects Dr. Hartley as chair
Summary
The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry committee approved reappointments of multiple board members, including the reappointment and selection of Dr. Hartley as committee chair after a brief screening and unanimous voice votes.
The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry committee approved reappointments of multiple Department of Natural Resources board members and selected Dr. Hartley to serve as committee chairman during a routine screening and voice vote.
The committee moved to confirm reappointments of Mr. Ochsner and Mr. Swaggart and then considered Dr. Hartley for reappointment and chairmanship. During the screening, committee staff confirmed receipt of each candidate's personal data questionnaire, fingerprint background check, credit report and driving record. Mr. Swaggart told the committee, "It's been an honor, and I look forward to serving more time with them. Thank you." The committee then voted by voice to approve the reappointments.
Dr. Hartley addressed the committee before his confirmation, saying, "I've enjoyed so much being on the DNR boards for this past term. I see my role as carrying out Governor McMaster's pledge to the people to conserve half of the state before he leaves office. And I've got a good right hand man here to help us. It'd be an honor to serve, and I will not blemish the agency, and I will not do anything that would bring shame or anything negative on DNR ever." Committee members asked routine screening questions about conflicts of interest and investigations; Dr. Hartley and the other nominees answered "No sir" when asked whether they or family members owned businesses receiving state or federal funds that pass through the department or whether they were under investigation by a law enforcement or regulatory agency.
Senator Stubbs and another senator (identified in the record as "Senator for Chester") praised Dr. Hartley's conservation work and fundraising history in the conservation community; one committee member noted Dr. Hartley's role in fundraising for Ducks Unlimited.
Each reappointment was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The committee forwarded the reappointments and the chair selection to the next step following unanimous voice approvals.
