07/19/06 Barowsky named to commission

When Governor Jim Risch appointed Bob Barowsky Fruitland to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission he said the former Payette County sheriff was right for the job and highly respected. RISCH "They re-elected him sheriff over and over again over 24 years. That tells you something about him. The fact that his peers elected him as president of the Idaho Sheriff's Association tells you something about him." Democrat Barowsky's four year appointment upset some people because he hasn't held hunting or fishing license in more than a decade. The new commissioner from Southwest Idaho is concerned about limited access for hunters and fishermen. BAROWSKY "Maybe we can start facilitating different organizations to come in and buy certain sections to allow our public access to not only to the land but to rivers, the streams and everything else involved in that." He'd like to see more programs that involve youth such as a free fishing day. BAROWSKY "Take an eight, nine year old kid you can really get him excited if he catches a trout, even a bullhead, crappie, I mean its really exciting for these young people." There's a political note to this appointment. Barowsky will now have to drop out of his state senate race, a contest that pitted him against incumbent Republican Monte Pearce of New Plymouth. State law prohibits commissioners from holding public office. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott