Robert Ruffner has spent most of his career outside the spotlight, working behind the scenes on Kenai River habitat issues, but this week that changed dramatically.
Local communities and governments are rallying around the Watershed Forum Director after he was denied a seat on the Board of Fish by State lawmakers last Sunday.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre spoke plainly at last night’s Assembly meeting…
KPB Mayor Navarre: “I was extremely disappointed and at times even disgusted with the antics in Juneau and in particular, a local fishing group, Kenai River Sportfish Association, took an interest in Mr. Ruffner’s nomination and confirmation process and were very, very active in defeating him. I have a number of friends who are on that board and who are members of that organization but it was exceptionally disappointing to me to see the misinformation and disinformation that was promulgated in the Legislature.”
Mayor Navarre’s comments were supported by many others in the Administration and Assembly…
Paul Ostrander: “There was a lot of really bad information and people were using that information, they were misinforming others, to further their agenda.
Asm. Wayne Ogle (Nikiski): “The real difficulty was he wasn’t part of a power group.
Asm. Kelly Wolf(K-Beach): “What amazes me is this organization still has a lot of support.
Asm. Haggerty(S. Pen): “I’m perplexed by it, I’m confounded. I’m more confused than I am angry, but I know I’m going to get to the angry part about it.”