Governor Bob Ferguson has initiated an investigation into the conduct of members of the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission after public records recently brought certain actions into question. The inquiry was prompted by a request from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind, who expressed concerns in a letter sent to the governor earlier this month.
In a statement released on Friday, a spokesperson for Ferguson’s office noted, “The governor takes concerns from an agency director very seriously. He has directed Washington State Human Resources to conduct an investigation.”
Susewind’s letter, dated August 5 and made public by Columbia Insight, highlighted the need for further inquiry based on documents obtained by the Sportsmen’s Alliance through a public records request in May. He suggested that an independent investigation into the commissioners’ communications would be necessary and indicated that members could face removal if found to have acted improperly. He stressed that maintaining public trust is crucial for the commission to fulfill its responsibilities, stating, “It is simply not reasonable to expect that level of trust under the cloud of uncertainty created by the current controversy.”
The Sportsmen’s Alliance, a fishing and hunting rights organization based in Ohio, sought emails, texts, and other communications from the commissioners after their November 2022 decision to halt recreational spring hunting of black bears, a move the alliance opposed.
In January 2025, the group filed a lawsuit against the commission, alleging a nearly two-year delay in releasing the requested records. However, a Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the commission on Friday, with the Sportsmen’s Alliance announcing plans to appeal the decision.
The records were eventually released to the Sportsmen’s Alliance in May 2025. Upon reviewing them, the group claimed that four commissioners—Barbara Baker, John Lehmkuhl, Lorna Smith, and Melanie Rowland—violated state open meeting and public records laws prior to their controversial vote. Subsequently, they filed a petition seeking the removal of these commissioners.
In response to Susewind’s letter, the commissioners have sent individual letters to Ferguson defending their actions leading up to the vote and expressing disappointment over the call for an investigation. According to Columbia Insight, the commissioners have requested the governor’s assistance in facilitating a broader discussion with various state agencies to reevaluate the state’s role in natural resource management.
Following Ferguson’s decision to approve the investigation, several environmentalists and animal rights advocates criticized Susewind during public comments at the Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting held in Bellingham on Friday.
