Letter to Gov. Polis critical of Niemiec hiring to BAP. ( Colorado -Bureau of Animal Protection... Department of Agriculture. )

This letter expresses concern regarding the decision to hire Dr. Rebecca Niemiec as the Program Manager of the Colorado Bureau of Animal Protection.

As State Representatives, we strongly question the qualifications of Dr. Niemiec, as none of her academic titles show relative experience in the fields of study that are necessary to hold a managerial position within the CBAP.

Dr. Niemiec’s background deals with conservation behavior as a behavioral scientist and shows no reputable experience or competence towards the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s mission statement: “The mission of the Department of Agriculture is to strengthen and advance Colorado agriculture; promote a safe and high-quality food supply.”

We believe it is essential for the Program Manager of the CDA to understand animal science, as it pertains to livestock, domestic pets, animal husbandry, and animal veterinary principles before holding this office.

Dr. Niemiec served as the co-director of the Colorado Center of Human-Carnivore Coexistence at Colorado State University, which partners with Defenders of Wildlife – a group that strongly supported the reintroduction of the gray wolf, despite it being a direct threat to cattle ranchers in every corner of Colorado. Her background in this area is a conflict of interest in agricultural production.

Governor Polis, controversy from your administration surrounding agriculture continues to escalate. Your executive decisions regarding all CDA appointments and selections within the department needs to mitigate the attack against rural Colorado and Colorado ranchers across our great State.

Polis appointment another poke in the eye to agriculture... serious concerns regarding the recent appointment of Dr. Rebecca Niemic as the Director of the Bureau of Animal Protection (BAP) in the Colorado Department of Agriculture, as well as the process that was used.

Rebecca Niemic has significant ties to animal welfare groups that are loudly opposed to livestock production for food. She is currently leading a project in conjunction with the City of Boulder and Mercy For Animals organization that is promoting plant-based food. Mercy For Animals is dedicated to eradicating food animals from our food system. As consumers and livestock producers, this is a very large, and a very red, flag for us that Niemic may not have the best interests of all food production, including food animals, at heart and be able to act impartially in these matters.

Rebecca Niemic was an advocate for introduction of wolves into the communities where our fellow producers care for their livestock. We believe that past activities speak loudly and are concerned that someone who advocated so strongly for a cause that has such detrimental consequences to our animals, will be willing to hear our concerns.

In the past, the BAP was under the administration of the State Veterinarian, whose role it is to support producers in numerous ways, including livestock disease management.

The selection process is suspect, as well. Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Silverman put forth a slate of four applicants. There were two people that had experience in handling animal welfare situations and two candidates from extreme animal rights groups. Later, those recommendations were scrapped in favor of Governor Polis’ slate of three different applicants, that all had close ties with extremist animal rights activist groups.

Polis also sat in the interviews of these three candidates. Does the Governor generally involve himself in mid-level staff interviews?

https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2022/02/19/vanwinkle-polis-appointment-another-poke-in-the-eye-to-agriculture/

Leftists want to bring in wolves to kill livestock, elk, deer, and ... Ellen Kessler, friend to Polis’ husband Marlon Reis, both animal activists, was appointed to the State Board of Veterinary Medicine and now another animal activist, Rebecca Niemiec has been hired as the program manager for the Colorado Bureau of Animal Protection.

Kind of makes you wonder who is running Colorado, Gov. Polis or his husband Reis.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.