 Signs HB 76, appoints 9 members to panel July 26, 2005
House Bill 76, sponsored by Representative Ralph Samuels, was submitted after a 2003 audit by the Legislature recommending re-establishing the Board in an effort to enhance professionalism by guides and transporters, consumer protection, and hunter safety. "Since the termination of the Board in 1994, conflicts among professional hunters, land managers, the general hunting public, and transporters have increased dramatically," Murkowski said. "This Board, with its diverse membership and open public process, will enforce high ethical standards and facilitate cooperation between parties." The Board, which will be housed within the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, consists of nine members representing licensed guide-outfitters and transporters, the Board of Game, private landholders, and the general public. Murkowski appointed nine Alaskans with backgrounds in big game guiding or outdoor recreations to serve their first term on the newly-created board. Paul Johnson, of Elfin Cove, and Richard Rohrer, of Kodiak, will serve as representatives of licensed guide-outfitters. Johnson is a lodge owner and previously served on the Guide Board that was dissolved in 1989. Colin Brown, of Galena, and Rob Scherer, of Ketchikan, will represent licensed transporters. Brown is a pilot and owner of Yukon Eagle Air and Scherer is a charter boat captain and owner of Classic Alaska Charters. Ted Spraker, of Soldotna, will serve as the designated member from the Board of Game. Ralph Anderson, of Dillingham, and Roy Ashenfelter, of Nome, will serve in seats designated for private landholders who are not licensed guide-outfitters. Anderson is deputy director of Lands & Resources for the Bristol Bay Native Association. Ashenfelter is director of Land Management Services for Kawerak, Inc. The two public members are
Urban Rahoi, of Fairbanks, and B.J. Schmitz, of North Pole. Rahoi
has the distinction of having the first guiding license issued
in Alaska in 1973 and Schmitz is a former Fish and Wildlife Service
biologist who teaches courses in outdoor skills for women.
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