Environmentalist campaign

Jerry McNerney was an unlikely candidate to take down a powerful GOP committee chairman.

He has never held elected office. He has written novels and a satire diet book, and is a wind energy consultant who named his daughter Windy. He started several companies that haven’t gone anywhere, has almost no income and lives off a family trust.

McNerney did not even have the support of Democratic Party leaders in the primary, and he lost badly two years ago to the man he soundly defeated on Nov. 7: House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy.

The unconventional resume didn’t matter as national environmental groups made the race a referendum on Pombo, angry over the incumbent’s support for energy and gas drilling, privatizing public lands and rewriting the Endangered Species Act to add protections for landowners.

The Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and other groups spent more than $1 million to defeat Pombo and declared victory when they succeeded.

McNerney says he was inspired to run two years ago by his son, Michael, an Air Force officer who suggested McNerney could serve his country in office.

“We don’t come from a political family at all,” said Michael, who answered a congratulatory call from President Clinton. “I was on the phone with him (Clinton) and thinking, ‘How did we end up here? “’

Associated Press

CONSERVATION

Raptor class offered

Wild about Raptors, a new class aimed primarily at teachers and youth leaders, will be taught by the Idaho Fish and Game Department Dec. 8-9 at Woodland Middle School in Coeur d’Alene.

The class, with options for an hour of college credit, will study Idaho’s birds of prey, using a live bald eagle, several live owls and falcons and a boat cruise to view bald eagles at Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Participants will get a “Flying Wild” multi-disciplinary activity guide developed and tested by teachers and used in classrooms nationwide.

More than 70 percent of Idaho teachers are incorporating this sort of “Project Wild” activities in their classrooms, said Phil Cooper, IFG spokesman in Coeur d’Alene.

Pre-register: IFG regional office, (208) 769-1414.

WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT

Tipsters root out Idaho poachers

Recent tips from alert sportsmen and vigilant citizens have resulted in charges being filed in a number of poaching incidents over the last three weeks, said Idaho Fish and Game Department officials in Coeur d’Alene.

A Bonners Ferry man was cited for illegally killing and wasting the meat, an Eastport man was cited for using a rifle to kill a mule deer during archery season and two Moyie Springs men were charged with deer and elk hunting violations stemming from a spotlighting incident.

All of these cases were solved because sportsmen and citizens reported details such as finding the carcass of a dead big-game animal, getting vehicle descriptions and-or license numbers or reporting shots fired in the night, said Phil Cooper, IFG spokesman in Coeur d’Alene.

Anyone who witnesses a wildlife violation is encouraged to report the incident by contacting their local Fish and Game officer, the local sheriffs office or calling the Citizens against poaching hotline, (800) 632-5999. Callers may remain anonymous.

Rich Landers