Conservation League critical of Gibbons, gives grade of ‘F’

By David McGrath Schwartz

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 | 11:45 a.m.

The Nevada Conservation League gave Gov. Jim Gibbons a grade of "F" on his conservation record, criticizing him for appointments to the Wildlife Commission, a "failure to lead" on environmental issues and not working more with hunting and conservation groups.

The environmental group said "voters should see a stronger leader with a solid conservation ethic in the governor’s cffice," according to the report.

The Conservation League criticized Gibbons on four bills that were a priority for the group. This included a bill to allow an apprentice hunting program that had unanimous support in the Legislature, and another that set up regulations for off-highway vehicles that had broad support from a coalition of off-roaders and conservationists. Additionally, the report criticized Gibbons for appointing a majority to the Board of Wildlife Commissioners "whose singular focus is to restore mule deer herds via predator management programs." Gibbons has drawn fire from some of the state’s largest hunting groups for some of his appointments.

The group gave Gibbons an F in leadership, an F in budgeting and administration, and Ds in his appointments and Legislative session.

Gibbons spokesman Dan Burns was not immediately available for comment. But he told the Reno Gazette-Journal: “They must be talking about someone else. Their criticism is laughable."