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Ex-Member of Arkansas G&FC Says 3 Members Control Panel

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Two of three members of the state Game and Fish Commission accused by former member Sheffield Nelson of grabbing "absolute control'' of the panel say Nelson's claim is groundless.

And Scott Henderson, who recently stepped down from the G&FC director's post, denies that he was pressured to do so, as Nelson claims in an article Sunday in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "This is what I chose to do,'' Henderson told the newspaper.

Nelson, a former natural-gas utility executive, was twice a Republican candidate for governor. He was appointed to the commission by then-Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2000 and left the panel in 2007.

He claimed that new procedures adopted by the commission in July, requiring approval from one of several committees before a matter can be considered by the full commission, put control of the panel's agenda in the hands of three members of the seven-member commission.

Nelson claimed the changes give the trio "absolute control ... so they can pass anything they want to pass and stop anything they do not want.''

Two of the three commissioners accused by Nelson — chairman Craig Campbell and Rick Watkins, both of Little Rock — denied his claims. The third, Emon Mahony of El Dorado, declined to comment.

Campbell said he didn't know why Nelson would make such claims, and he added: "You'd be better off to consider the source.''

Campbell said Nelson may be upset by commission decisions to close the fall turkey season, add a second mallard hen to the duck limit and allow roboduck decoys. Nelson said those actions reversed decisions that were made when he was on the commission, but were minor and had nothing to do with his concerns.

Watkins, who was appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe in 2007 to replace Nelson on the commission, called Nelson's claims "unfortunate ... inappropriate and unfounded.'' Watkins said the commission would give consideration to any constructive ideas to improve the panel's operations.

"We'll let our works speak for themselves,'' he said.

Campbell denied that he, Mahony and Watkins had conspired to rig a system that puts all important decisions in their hands.

"The refined structure provides greater opportunities for discussion and input, resulting in a more transparent and open decision-making process.''

Henderson, 61, has worked for the Game and Fish Commission since 1972 and has been its director since 2003. In July 2008, he became seriously ill with an autoimmune disorder, polymyalgia rheumatica. He was admitted to a hospital and later went to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for several days. He returned to work on a regular basis in February 2009.

Henderson proposed this spring that he step down as director and move to a vacant deputy director position, effective Sept. 1.

He was asked if a commissioner had requested the move.

"I would characterize this more as me being lucky enough to reassign myself,'' he responsed. "There was a conversation about transitions, and I jumped in, and this is what I recommended.''

In an e-mail Henderson sent June 21 to G&FC members, he said most of them "know from previous discussions I have been looking for ways to slow down during the last year since returning from my illness. It is my desire to step down as director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. I appreciate your request that I remain with the commission for my remaining three years before mandatory retirement.''

On June 24, the day Henderson's move was announced, he sent an e-mail that said it wasn't possible for him to properly fulfill commission director duties since returning from his illness. He said he was happy to work on selected projects and help with the transition "since a slower pace was my objective in the first place.''

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