Governor Appoints Two New Fish and Game Commissioners

Governor Dirk Kempthorne on Friday named a retired cardiologist and a former Fish and Game regional supervisor to fill vacancies on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. Dr. Wayne Wright, of Twin Falls, replaces Dr. Fred Wood as the Magic Valley Region Commissioner. Gary Power, of Salmon, replaces John Burns in the Salmon Region. Wright, 60, retired this week after practicing medicine in the Magic Valley for 28-years. He is a fifth generation Idahoan born in Castleford. A lifelong Republican and avid sportsman, he considers his appointment to be a "real privilege" and says his first priority will be to learn all he can about how Fish and Game works and the issues the department faces. "Hunting and fishing are part of our heritage. Our wildlife is so important and I want to preserve it for our kids and grandkids. I think that is very important for the future of our state," Wright said. He and his wife Joanne have been married for 36 years and have three grown children and three grandchildren. Power retired in 1998 after a 28-year career with Fish and Game. After graduating from the University of Idaho with a degree in zoology and started as a conservation officer in Yellowpine. He ended his career as the regional supervisor in the Salmon Region. Since retiring, Power has supervised and participated in a research project in game management unit 28, studying the relationship between predators and their big game prey as part of a masters program for U of I. He serves as the county representative on the Forest Service Resource Advisory Committee and guides on the Salmon River, where he was as this was written, and thus was unavailable for comment.