DENVER-
Gov. Bill Ritter nominated retired wildlife biologist Dennis Buechler and Chaffee County Commissioner Timothy Glenn to fill vacancies on the Colorado Wildlife Commission on Monday.
Buechler, of Centennial, retired from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2003. He is a former board member of the Colorado Wildlife Federation and now heads the group’s work on oil and gas issues.
He and Glenn, who lives in Salida, would replace Rick Enstrom and Las Animas County Commissioner Ken Torres, whose terms expired March 1.
The Wildlife Commission is responsible for hunting and wildlife programs. It has nine members who serve four-years terms. They must be confirmed by the Senate.
Walt Graul, a former head of the commission’s wildlife branch and now a member of the board of the Colorado Wildlife Federation, said Buechler would be the first biologist on the Wildlife Commission in at least 30 years.
Ritter also nominated six people for the board of Great Outdoors Colorado, or GOCO, which distributes state lottery and lotto proceeds for recreation, wildlife and open space projects.
The nominees are James A. Smith of Denver, Karla L. Shriver of Monte Vista, Kathleen B. Rader of Colorado Springs, Matt J. Sugar of Winter Park, state Sen. Ken Kester of Las Animas and Thomas W. Swanson of Evergreen.
The GOCO board has 17 members, with 14 members appointed by the governor. Their terms are for four years and Senate confirmation is required.
