Gov. Walker names Wasilla man to Board of Fish

WASILLA — Gov. Bill Walker on Monday tapped a Wasilla resident and current member of the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee to fill a slot on the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

Israel Payton, a salesman for Airframes Alaska in Birchwood and a hunting and fishing guide for nearly 20 years, was nominated along with Anchorage’s Alan Cain and Soldotna’s Robert Ruffner to fill three seats on the board after the current meeting cycle ends in March. Walker also nominated Guy Trimmingham and reappointed Nathan Turner to the Board of Game.

The Alaska Board of Fisheries and the Alaska Board of Game each consist of seven members serving three-year terms. All the nominations are subject to confirmation by the Alaska Legislature.

The Board of Fish nominees will replace Talkeetna bed and breakfast owner and former borough assemblyman Tom Kluberton, Dillingham commercial fisherman Fritz Johnson and Bob Mumford, a retired Alaska State Trooper who announced his resignation last week. Kluberton, appointed in 2010 by Gov. Sean Parnell, had previously announced his intentions to not to return to the board after his term expires in June.

“Alaska’s fisheries are enjoyed by many in our state, and the experience these three men bring to the board will ensure this resource is managed for the maximum benefit of Alaskans,” Walker said in a press release announcing the nominations. “I also thank Robert Mumford and Fritz Johnson for serving on the Board of Fish. Mr. Johnson’s expertise has proven invaluable, and I hope to utilize him in a different capacity going forward.”

Payton was re-elected to the Valley advisory committee in November. He was raised in Skwentna.

Ruffner, an environmental scientist for the nonprofit Kenai Watershed Forum, returns to the process after a contentious confirmation fight last year that resulted in defeat in the Legislature. That battle began after Walker replaced previous board chair Karl Johnstone with commercial fisherman Roland Maw, who withdrew from consideration in February 2015 as he faced charges of illegally obtaining resident fishing and hunting licenses in Montana.

Walker then chose Ruffner, who became the target of sportfishing groups who opposed his nomination.

Maw, 72, was charged by the State of Alaska last month with 17 counts of theft and unsworn falsification for illegally obtaining Permanent Fund Dividends and commercial fishing permits in the state.

According to a press release from the governor’s office, Cain is a natural resources enforcement adviser and trainer, with 40 years of experience as an Alaska Wildlife Trooper, criminal justice planner and private contractor.

During that time, he spent 15 years as an enforcement adviser to the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at 352-2269 or steven.merritt@frontiersman.com