Darrell Ticehurst/Fisheries Issues
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Complaint Filed Against F&G Commissioner Sutton
May. 8 2009, 9:28 AM
May. 8 2009, 9:28 AM
The Central Coast Fisheries Conservation Coalition has filed a complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that Commissioner Sutton had a conflict of interest when he voted on the MLPA Master Plan for MPAs. This is a serious charge and one that is well documented in the complaint.
Commissioner Sutton is paid by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, an organization funded by one of the RLFF foundations and an active supporter of MPAs. Indeed one can go to the Aquarium’s Website today and see its open support for MPAs. The complaint notes the obvious conflict from the funding source, but in addition, notes that Meg Caldwell, member of the BRTF that drafted the Master Plan, is also one of Sutton’s bosses. “Thus, in casting his vote on February 7, 2008, Commr. Sutton was in the position of deciding whether to reject the recommendations of his boss,” alleges the complaint. Indeed, when you look at the obvious strong backing by the aquarium, and the huge funding that the aquarium’s own funders have put into the MLPA, it is pretty clear to most people that Commissioner Sutton didn’t have any choice in how to vote.
Now, do you want to know the capper? Commissioner Sutton never disclosed his employment by the Aquarium. He deliberately hid the fact that he was receiving a huge salary from the Aquarium to vote the way they wanted. And they do want the MPAs adopted very badly. Here is what they say in their 2007 Annual Review: “In the year ahead, we’ll continue to work with colleagues to secure a network spanning the entire California coast, creating a national model for marine ecosystem protection”. He knew he would be working on the MLPA in his job on the Commission. How could he fail to disclose who he was working for? Clearly he has a conflict and his decisions are going to be biased. Biased? No, that is too mild a word. His salary depends upon him approving those MPAs whether they are good for us or not, and he has already shown that with his vote. He should be removed from the Commission immediately.
Jim Volberding
May 9, 2009, 10:10 am
This just shows one of the issues that the fishing community has in the MLPA process. Mr. Sutton does need to be removed from the California fish and Game commission before he has a vote on any further
MLPA decisions since the evidence clearly shows how he will vote.
May 9, 2009, 10:10 am
This just shows one of the issues that the fishing community has in the MLPA process. Mr. Sutton does need to be removed from the California fish and Game commission before he has a vote on any further
MLPA decisions since the evidence clearly shows how he will vote.
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May 21, 2009, 1:17 pm
Not only should Sutton be removed but the entire vote should be Voided . Legal action should be discussed as this was willfull.