As the new year dawns and the gubernatorial administration of Rod Blagojevich prepares to assume command, the days are running out on Brent Manning’s leadership of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
More Top Picks Best Weighted Blankets For Autistic Adults
On Jan. 20, Manning, like other high-level political appointees who have been granted extensions to ease the transition from the Republican administration of Gov. George Ryan to the new Democratic one elected in November, will formally submit his resignation. Manning has been in charge of the agency for 12 years.
Although Manning has said he would love to stay on as director of the agency that oversees the state’s hunting, fishing and other outdoors programs, the chances of that happening are tiny.
“I was appointed politically, but I’m not a political guy,” he said.
But it is a political job, and Manning said this week he has no idea what he will be doing after the next three weeks are up.
“I still don’t know,” he said.
Widely viewed as a friend to sportsmen–indeed, he is one himself–Manning said his training was in fisheries and wildlife and he hopes his next job is in that field. Maybe in Illinois, maybe not. Maybe at IDNR, maybe not.
“It’s a total unknown,” Manning said, though he added that he would stay with the department “under the right circumstances. I’m not ruling anything out.”
Manning grew up in Pawnee, a farming community south of Springfield, where he learned to hunt and fish from his father, Gene. He fishes all over the state and in Wisconsin and hunts for turkey, pheasant, quail, geese, rabbits and deer.
But he struck out during Illinois shotgun season in his quest for deer last fall and said he’d better get cracking with his bow.
“I probably had 30 opportunities to shoot deer from my stand,” Manning said of his shotgun experience in Schuyler County (the name as published has been corrected in this text). “I never got a shot off.”
Manning said he would like to become the chief executive officer of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in Missoula, Mont. That job was open two years ago and Manning tried for it but didn’t get it. He has sent a resume to the foundation, but the formal process to fill the job once again hasn’t even started, he said.
“I have suggested I have an interest,” Manning said. “There’s no application out.”
Manning said he has sent his resume to friends in various places whom he hopes can act as conduits to put him in touch with the right people as jobs open up. He also sought the directorship of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, he said. However, he said he didn’t even get an interview, something that left him “somewhat saddened.”
There has been no announcement about who would replace Manning as boss of the department, although Rep. Joel Brunsvold (D-Milan), active in the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, has been mentioned, and longtime, well-respected IDNR fisheries chief Mike Conlin is a possible candidate.
Manning said he has talked with Blagojevich’s transition team to help smooth the way for a changeover in administrations.
“I will make this transition with a level of class and dignity,” he said.
IDNR began the 2001 fiscal year with about 2,160 employees, Manning said. About 80 were lost to attrition by July 2001, natural attrition accounted for another 150 vacancies, and perhaps as many as 250 department workers will take early retirement, meaning IDNR likely will be down nearly 500 bodies when Blagojevich takes over, Manning said.
It is very likely that Manning will be among them.
CWD update: To date, Illinois has recorded four cases of chronic wasting disease in deer, all of them from areas along the Wisconsin state line. But it will be late March or early April before IDNR gets all the results from the thousands of animals tested, Manning said.
“We will probably see some more” cases, Manning predicted.
But he said he would be surprised if they are from any region other than the north.
Manning said Illinois hunters responded well to the issuance of departmental warnings about the threat of the disease, which affects the brain of the animals, and he said hunters acted prudently and cooperatively.
More Top Picks Best Running Boards For Trucks
As requested, hunters reported signs of erratic behavior in deer. It turned out that many deer exhibiting peculiar actions did not have chronic wasting disease.
“They were either wounded in battle or hit by a car,” Manning said.
Manning said hunters did not panic upon learning CWD had appeared in Illinois.
“My personal viewpoint is that there’s no reason to panic,” Manning said.
Manning said he still plans to eat venison but said anyone with doubts about a deer taken should refrain. If they’re assured the meat is OK, “then enjoy a good steak.”