Ferguson Names Washington Fish And Wildlife Commission Members

Molly Linville will return to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, Jim Anderson has been reappointed, and an Anacortes man will also join the citizen panel.

No, not that Anacortes resident; rather, Victor Garcia, a beloved local school teacher whose social media feed is sprinkled with fishing and hunting images, and who attracted media attention when his duck dog disappeared while Garcia was fighting cancer a few years ago.

The slate suggests Governor Bob Ferguson and his office went pragmatic in the face of a preservationist push to put another Anacortes guy – Tim Ragen – back on the commission, as well as reseat Lynn O’Connor of Ferry County. There was last-ditch lobbying in the form of a Sunday Seattle Times op-ed.

Former Governor Jay Inslee had named both Ragen and O’Connor in the very last days of his third and final term, but their appointments were rescinded in early February by Ferguson and an improved commission vetting and interviewing process was subsequently launched.

“Molly, Jim and Victor offer deep and varied experience, as well as unique perspectives to the Fish & Wildlife Commission,” Governor Ferguson said in a press release out late this afternoon. “The Ruckelshaus report raised serious concerns about the commission, and we believe these individuals will help to address those issues.”

The appointments are effective immediately and the members will serve on the commission as they await confirmation in the state Senate. The commission sets policy for WDFW and hires and fires its director.

Garcia grew up in Grays Harbor and worked in Alaska as a commercial fisherman, as well as a field biologist. He’s taught AP biology and other courses at Anacortes, Mount Vernon and Ocosta School Districts. He has a bachelor’s in marine zoology from UW and a master’s in science education from Vanderbilt.

Linville is a Douglas County rancher and former federal wildlife biologist who previously served on the commission from July 2019 into early 2025. She was vice chair for a couple years and was pushed out by Inslee to make way for the appointment of O’Connor, a Northeast Washington Rotary Club member and former park ranger. Linville’s return will be welcomed.

Anderson, a hunter and angler who often speaks of his outings at meetings, was appointed to the commission in July 2019 and is regarded as the panel’s diplomat. The Buckley resident retired from a 25-year career as executive director of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission in 2010.

According to the Governor’s Office’s press release, Ferguson requested Ragen and O’Connor’s appointments back “in light of the Ruckelshaus report” and feedback from “multiple individuals, and tribes” after the joint UW-WSU survey of fish and wildlife world stakeholders “raised several concerns” about the commission in recent years.

Ferguson’s release specifically called out the part of the report that states, “Many referred to the Commission as being dysfunctional, politically polarized, and caught up in conflict. When asked how to address these issues, some proposed eliminating the Commission and moving to an entirely new governance structure.”

Ironically, the Ruckelshaus report was part of fish and wildlife reformists’ efforts to steer the commission and WDFW away from its traditional mooring. Funding for the report was inserted into 2023’s budget very late in the process, catching sportsmen’s groups by surprise. In recent days, some of those behind the reformist effort have been making their case in the media to continue that course by reappointing Ragen and O’Connor.

But that was not to be.

The governor made today’s appointments following “an extensive interview process, utilizing a diverse interview panel to evaluate all of the 14 eligible individuals who applied for the Commission over the past year.”

Hat tip to Governor Ferguson and staff from this quarter, and others in the sporting world were also welcoming the news.

“The Washington Chapter of BHA has long regarded Commissioners Anderson and Linville as outstanding stewards of our state’s wildlife management, and we are thrilled to see them return to their roles,” stated chapter secretary Dan Wilson. “As Washington’s natural resources face increasingly complex challenges, their depth of experience and commitment to conservation remain invaluable. While we’re not yet deeply familiar with Victor Garcia, we look forward to working closely with him throughout his term for the benefit of Washington’s fish and wildlife.”

“Washington BHA also extends our sincere appreciation to the Governor and his staff for their thoughtful and thorough vetting process in selecting these exceptional candidates,” Wilson added. “We respect the demands of the volunteer commission and appreciate the willingness of all those who stepped forward to serve in this important capacity.”

Larry Phillips of the American Sportfishing Association stated, “I am encouraged by the recent appointments of Anderson, Linville, and Garcia to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission. Their diverse expertise and commitment to conservation are vital for sustainable fisheries management and supporting Washington’s robust recreational fishing industry. The sportfishing industry in Washington generates approximately $3 billion annually. This substantial economic impact underscores the importance of recreational fishing to our state’s financial well-being and the livelihoods of many Washingtonians.​ The American Sportfishing Association looks forward to collaborating with the newly appointed commissioners to promote policies that balance conservation efforts with the interests of recreational anglers.”

Jonathan Stumpf, a Washington wild steelhead advocate with Trout Unlimited, said his organization was happy that the vacant commission seats have now been filled – the panel was down to seven members for the last three meetings and the Habitat Committee had been on pause ever since Linville, its last chair, was not reappointed.

“I look forward to continuing our work with Commissioners Anderson and Linville on the important issues and policies impacting our fisheries and am eager to learn more about Commissioner Garcia’s background and the perspective he’ll bring to the table,” Stumpf said.