Commissioners delay letter to governor

Wahkiakum County commissioners decided Tuesday to wait another week before signing a letter to Governor Christine Gregoire that will air criticims of the chair of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, Miranda Wecker of Naselle.

Wecker spoke in October at a meeting of a coalition of lower Columbia River counties, and her remarks led to the Wahkiakum commissioners' desire to complain to Gov. Gregoire.

Commissioner Lisa Marsyla repeated her request of last week to delay sending the letter to the governor until more commissioners from Pacific and Clatsop counties had joined in signing.

She also suggested toning down some of the language in the draft letter. "I'm not against it, just the tone of the letter is not my style," she said.

Colleagues Dan Cothren and Blair Brady wanted to keep the tone.

"She was very anti-commercial fishing," Cothren said. "That's unacceptable. It's not just the commercial fisheries for us, it's sport fishing, too. It's rural versus urban communities."