''I will not succumb to pressure. I'm not going to be somebody's 'Yes Man' on the commission.''
by Richard Simms
posted June 4, 2009
I glanced up and saw the rod tip ''bounce'' like it had been slapped. Reaction time was good as the angler ''slapped back.'' The 3/0 hook hit home and the battle was on.
At one end of the line was a steely blue Tennessee River catfish... 15 pounds of rippling muscle with a hefty current helping the fish rage against the rod.
On the other end, a man who holds the fish's fate in his hands... in more ways than one.
His given name is William L. Brown (the man, not the fish). In Chattanooga, for all 69 years of his life however, most people have known him as “Chink” Brown… or for many years, the Honorable Judge Brown. Now he is an attorney specializing in mediation for the Miller & Martin law firm… and he is a newly-appointed member of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission representing Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Sequatchie, and Rhea counties.
The 13-member commission is the governing body over the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Thirteen men and women who help decide and guide the fate of Tennessee’s rich wildlife resources.
With the skill derived from many years on the right end of a fishing rod, Brown convinced the big blue that it really wanted be in the boat with us. A few pictures later and he (or she) went back to grow to “trophy length.”
Except for travel expenses to meetings, wildlife commissioners are not paid. They suffer through phone call after phone call from concerned (tactful word for “irate”) sportsmen for no money and very little, if any, glory. The majority of the world doesn’t know they exist. So why would he want to do it?
“I’ve hunted and fished all my life and enjoyed what Tennessee has to offer,” said Brown. “I’m at a time in my life that I want to give something back.”
Brown says he had expressed an interest in the politically-appointed position many years ago but he didn’t actively pursue it. He says this time however, he was approached by representatives from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and others locally.
“I told them I was definitely interested,” said Brown. “Of course I’ve been in politics most of my adult life. I started contacting folks who might put me in touch with the right people to put my name before the committee that the Governor has review potential commissioners.”
Brown had to basically submit a resume for that committee and says he didn’t know a soul there.
“I can’t tell you to this day who’s on the committee,” he said.
He didn’t have much hope because he was told some women had expressed an interest and that, “by statute the Governor has to have two women on the commission.”
The Governor did appoint a woman for one of the Middle Tennessee Commission slots, while Brown got the nod in Chattanooga. I asked what his number one goal would be during his 6-year tenure.
“I did not come on the Commission with a personal agenda,” he said. “My goal is preserve what we have and acquire more land for more hunting areas and other opportunities for every outdoor user… campers, fishermen, birdwatchers, everybody.”
It was a standard, politically-neutral kind of answer… very unsatisfactory for a journalist. Every hunter and fishermen in the world has his or her own ideas about wildlife management. They sit around campfires, in boats, duck blinds or on dove fields… each having said, “I wish they would…” (“they” being TWRA).
Once in a “campfire frame of mind,” Brown admitted “I probably have said that. One thing that comes to mind that I’m sure I’ve said … I wish they would manage for quail like they have for deer and turkey. I don’t think the effort has been put forth to manage that area like it has deer and turkey.”
Another admission however… he says he’s not sure how it can be done.
“There are so many shopping centers now, and subdivisions and farms that used to have grown-up fence rows that were perfect for quail. The places I hunted years ago… I go back there and I don’t recognize them now.”
Brown is quick to add that quail management is not going to be his mission during his wildlife tenure. His mission he says will be to listen to the sportsmen … whether they be bird hunter or birdwatcher… whether they pursue raccoons or squirrels… or whether they prefer bass over bluegill.
He is clearly “the glass is half full” kind of guy with a positive outlook on TWRA as an agency, and on a staff he defines as “professional and dedicated.” He also understands that TWRA is in dire financial straits these days.
“Those folks have been told they won’t get any raises this year and they probably won’t get a raise next year,” he said. “License sales continue to decline and that is where TWRA gets its money.”
Brown and his fellow commissioners have the authority to set hunting and fishing license fees (equivalent to the cost of living index). Knowing the financial burden on wildlife law enforcers and managers, would he vote for a license increase tomorrow?
“It would depend upon how much of an increase they were asking for,” he said.
In spite of the financial burders and lack of tax dollars from Tennessee's general fund, Brown says he believes it is best for TWRA to maintain it's independence... for now anyway.
Over the years many, including me, have accused previous wildlife commissions of making backroom deals far from the glare of the Sunshine Law. Brown says so far, he’s seen nothing but sunshine.
“No one has ever approached me to say, ‘Hey, we need to do something about this or that,” said Brown. “Now obviously two months isn’t very long but my pledge is to listen to the public. I will not succumb to pressure. I’m not going to be somebody’s ‘Yes Man’ on the Commission.”
The TWRC has five new members, the most new commissioners to come on board at the same time in decades.
“I’m one of five new kids on the block,” said Brown.
There is also an interesting shift in the “balance in power” to East Tennessee after many years of a majority West and Middle Tennessee commissioners.
Another new commissioner, Jeff McMillin from Bristol, was quoted on TriCities.com saying, “West Tennessee has been the emphasis of the [TWRC] for years, so a lot of money has gone to that area for developments such as duck hunting,” said McMillin. “If there is any way we can improve the resources in East Tennessee, we’ve got the votes to do it now.”
Brown simply says of the five new commissioners, “It looks like a fresh start to me.”
Of TWRA’s visibility among the sporting, and non-sporting public, Brown said, “I think it can always be better. Most anything we do we can usually improve on. I would like to see (TWRA) in our school system more. One of the officers started a program in Knoxville where kids could get their Boating License in conjunction with their Driver’s Ed class. I think that’s a great idea. I’m going to see what I can do to get that introduced in Chattanooga and other areas.”
And what about the visibility of wildlife commissioners. There are frequent complaints on various Internet forums that in this age of electronic communication, only three of the 13 wildlife commissioners publically post e-mail addresses.
Brown’s answer to that was to hand me his TWRC business card and say, “You’re welcome to publish it.”
wbrown@millermartin.com (Telephone: 423-785-8253)
That said, he admits he is a novice, part-time computer user and only checks his e-mail at the office, when he has to.
“Some days I might not be in the office so it could take me a day or two to respond.”
His pledge however, is to be responsive to the outdoorsmen (and women), and to the outdoors… including yet another big blue catfish on the end of his line.
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