TransparencyOversight & ethics enforcement

Yearlong probe finds two WA Fish and Wildlife commissioners routinely broke public-records and open-meetings law; Ferguson won't remove them, only warns them

Confidence: Confirmed · 4 sourcesWashington · Sep 22, 2026

Subject of this story

Bob Ferguson, Governor of Washington

Melanie Rowland, Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioner (At-Large, Okanogan County)

Lorna Smith, Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioner (Western Washington, Jefferson County)

Also named

Oversight

Chiedza Nziramasanga, Independent investigator

What happened

A nearly yearlong, $80,000 investigation that Gov. Ferguson ordered in September 2025 found that Fish and Wildlife Commissioners Melanie Rowland and Lorna Smith violated the Public Records Act (in one case withholding records for 18 months) and the Open Public Meetings Act through undisclosed meetings with an advocacy group, Washington Wildlife First, that was suing the department the commission oversees. The investigator, Chiedza Nziramasanga, said the conduct did not rise to the most serious form of alleged misconduct and stemmed partly from lack of training. On September 1-2, 2026, Ferguson's office made public confidential warning letters to Rowland and Smith calling their records delays 'particularly problematic,' declining to remove them but stating that further violations 'will result in removal from your position' before their terms end December 31, 2026.

Sources (4)

Washington State StandardWashington fish and wildlife commissioners routinely disregarded government transparency laws, skirted conflict of interest rules... In each instance, the evidence stops short of establishing the most serious forms of the alleged misconduct.

Washington State StandardLetters from the governor's office to Commissioners Melanie Rowland and Lorna Smith, signed by Chief Operations Officer Franklin Plaistowe and stamped confidential, said their slow response to public records requests was 'particularly problematic'... 'Failure to meet these expect

Salish CurrentThe investigator found no collusion, perjury, or pattern of harassment... Smith and Rowland reported receiving no specific dates or evidence supporting allegations. Both received warning letters; three other commissioners did not.

SourceMelanie Rowland, J.D. (At-Large, Okanogan County) — Term: Jan. 24, 2022 - Dec. 31, 2026. Lorna Smith (Western Washington, Jefferson County) — Term: Jan. 4, 2021 - Dec. 31, 2026.

Response

Bob Ferguson

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

Melanie Rowland

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

Lorna Smith

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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