The Alaska Senate Resources Committee recommended a slate of governor’s appointees to a joint legislative session on Feb. 25, forwarding the names of Al Barrett and Carrie Ann Mueller to the Board of Game, Rick Green to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, and Tom Carpenter to the Board of Fisheries. The committee’s recommendation was presented at the end of the meeting and will be transmitted for confirmation consideration.

Not all appointees were heard to completion. Samuel Laffey, the appointee to the State Assessment Review Board, attempted to call in from Kenya but experienced connection problems and the committee deferred his interview and attempted contact until the next meeting.

Who was considered and what they said
Al Barrett: Barrett, a Fairbanks resident first appointed July 1, 2022, is a reappointment to the seven‑member Board of Game. In his remarks he said he brings experience in conservation biology, subsistence issues and advisory committee work and described social allocation issues the board handles. Barrett cited a Kodiak example in which transporters ferry large numbers of hunters into small areas, creating local pressure that displaced subsistence hunters: "...what that impacted was the residents of Old Harbor, with that amount of pressure in that little area that made local residents have to go further into the bush and expend a lot more energy and expense to getting their deer needs met," he said. Public supporters included Virgil Umpenauer, who said he had worked with Barrett for more than 20 years and endorsed him, and Mark Richards of Residence Hunters of Alaska, who said Barrett is "one of the more knowledgeable members on the board."

Carrie Ann Mueller: Mueller, a new appointee calling from Palmer, described a long record of volunteer work with Department of Fish and Game programs, hunter education and outdoor‑industry outreach. She told the committee she has hunted in 14 game units and said she is "committed to following the science and data from our fish and game biologists and staff, listening to the input from the Alaska wildlife troopers and working cohesively with the 82 advisory committees around the state." Mark Richards testified in support of Mueller on behalf of his organization.

Rick Green: Green, who said he has served on the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission since July 1 (year not specified in the hearing), told the committee he sought appointment as part of a call to public service. He described the commission as a small agency that is largely self‑funding and said he and the other commissioner have exhausted a backlog of cases and are modernizing the agency’s web and case systems. He told the committee the commission "brings in almost $7,000,000" and costs about half that amount, and said he would assist the legislature on any structural changes it sought.

Tom Carpenter: Carpenter, a Cordova resident and the vice chair of the Board of Fisheries, described his work on long regulatory meetings, his role convening the Herring Revitalization Committee and service on the Alaska salmon research task force. Senators questioned Carpenter about letters opposing his reappointment from some advisory groups and about specific decisions on hatchery policy, pollock trawl and allocation questions. Carpenter said he consults peer‑reviewed science and department staff and defended substitute language he offered in Prince William Sound to allow managers flexibility in directing trawl effort to areas with fewer impacts on king salmon and rockfish.

Public testimony and support
Several commercial fishermen and advisory committee members called in to support Carpenter’s reappointment, including Bob Murphy (Kodiak), Dan McDonald (commercial fisherman), Steve Brown (Concerned Area Fishermen), and Robert Ayano (Bristol Bay commercial fisherman). Supporters praised Carpenter’s preparation, leadership and ability to mediate compromise.

Committee action and scheduling
At the conclusion of the meeting the vice chair moved a document recommending the four named appointees be forwarded to a joint session of the legislature for consideration; the motion was recorded as the committee’s recommendation and committee members were asked to sign the document. The chair said the committee will attempt to reconnect with Samuel Laffey and will consider an additional appointee (Erwin) at its next meeting on Monday at 3:30 p.m., when the committee will also hear SJR 18 and SB 174.

Ending
The committee recommended multiple gubernatorial appointees for confirmation consideration and deferred at least one appointment because the candidate could not be reached. The committee scheduled follow‑up on outstanding appointees at its next meeting.