Odfw Leader Resigns

[nwsteelheader]

Oregon's Fish & Wildlife leader resigns

Posted by The Oregonian June 22, 2007 09:13AM

Categories: Top Stories
Virgil Moore, director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, has resigned after 10 1/2 months on the job to return to Idaho.
Moore submitted his letter of resignation earlier this week to Marla Rae, chair of the Fish and Wildlife Commission, saying he's leaving the state for professional reasons.
He will become deputy director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Moore's wife and family, including two grandchildren, are in Idaho.
Mike Carrier, Gov. Ted Kulongoski's natural resources advisor, said Rae will name Roy Elicker, the department's deputy director, as interim director after Moore leaves.
Carrier said Moore didn't set a date for his departure, pending a transition period. "I would think we're talking about the end of July or early August," Carrier said.
Moore was selected director last year over Elicker in a close commission vote.
He immediately stepped into an intense political climate as the department prepared for the current legislative session, a session generally considered to have gone well for the department.
"I truly do not think this is for anything other than personal reasons," Carrier said. "He misses his grandchildren."
Check in at Bill Monroe's blog, The Birdsnest, for more developments today
-- Bill Monroe

[baltz526]

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Director Resigns
Date:June 22, 2007 Contact: Rick Hargrave (503) 947-6020
SALEM, Ore.—Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Director, Virgil Moore announced his resignation today, to be effective July 12.

"This was an extremely difficult decision for me," said Moore. “However, for personal reasons, I’ve decided to return to Idaho.
"It has been a great privilege to have served as director for Oregon Fish and Wildlife. Oregon is fortunate to have such dedicated and professional employees working to preserve and protect the state’s fish and wildlife,” said Moore.
Moore is returning to Idaho to take the Deputy Director position at Idaho Fish and Game. Moore, 55, worked for the Idaho agency for 29 years before taking the ODFW director position in August, 2006.
“This position gives me the opportunity to balance my personal and professional needs,” Moore said.
"We are extremely sorry to see Virgil leave, but we understand his need to be with his family," said Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair, Marla Rae. "Virgil made significant progress on many important initiatives with full Commission support. Under his brief tenure, the department has made tremendous steps in implementing the Oregon Conservation Strategy, improving its information and education efforts, and developing new partnerships with state agencies, groups and others. The Commission expects the next director to continue these efforts."
“My recommendation is that Roy Elicker be named interim director. We will discuss this issue at the next commission meeting July 12 and the next steps to finding a permanent director,” Rae said.

[baltz526]

did not this new director have a contract with a set time of employment. if not, the next director should

[BlacktailBowhunter]

Man, that is a bummer. That guy was going to be great for Oregon. Idaho has implemented some realy good youth hunter oriented programs, and some were in the class room. They even have hunter ed. in schools in some areas.

[Limbhanger]

Yep, that is a shame for sure. He is the kind of guy we need in there.

[Rank Amateur]

Originally Posted by baltz526

did not this new director have a contract with a set time of employment. if not, the next director should

Oh this is how it works with public officials Richard, if they quit they are not penalized, if you fire them you owe them the rest of the contract. Funny huh?

[baltz526]

it is aggravating to see the odfw seach for a good leader for almost as long as the person stays on the job, once found. it makes it look like the odfw is spinning it's wheels. that combined with no change in the direction of the way big game tags are over sold. the game commision has turned all the tags in the state into recreational hunts. opportunity tags, with no quality to the actual hunts

[STGRule]

Oh this is how it works with public officials Richard, if they quit they are not penalized, if you fire them you owe them the rest of the contract.

Except I don't think he had a contract. He could quit or he could be fired. No penalty to either side.

[roadsend]

Originally Posted by STGRule

Except I don't think he had a contract. He could quit or he could be fired. No penalty to either side.

Perhaps he should have had a contract - to protect himself, if for no other reason.
It is disappointing to see such a good man leave after such a short time, not to mention the expense necessary to find a top notch replacement.

[CombinationLicense]

It is really too bad for the ODFW and I hope that the leadership team he brought with him doesn't abandon ship too.

"CL"