Gov. Tate Reeves has submitted his options to fill two open seats on the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
In an internal email obtained by SuperTalk Mississippi News, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks announced that Colin Maloney and Todd Hairston were appointed by the Republican governor to join the five-member commission. The appointment will be subject to confirmation by the Mississippi Senate, which reconvenes in January.
“We are pleased to announce that Governor Tate Reeves has made two new appointments to the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Colin Maloney of Tupelo will represent the 1st Congressional District and Todd Hairston of Gulfport will represent the 5th Congressional District,” the email reads. “We welcome Colin and Todd to MDWFP and look forward to working with them to advance conservation!”
Maloney and Hairston’s appointments come after outdoorsmen and women across the state called for qualified individuals to be appointed to the Wildlife Commission. By trade, Maloney is the president and chief executive officer of Century Construction Group while Hairston is a business development officer for Covington Civil and Environmental.
Both are avid outdoorsmen who have board experience. Maloney served on the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund Board of Trustees, and Hairston was a member of the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Foundation Board.
Hairston was selected to replace Leonard Bentz, Jr., who was not reconfirmed by the Senate amid an illegal hunting scandal, while Maloney was selected to replace former chairman Bill Cossar. Cossar decided earlier this year to step away from the commission, effective June 30, with Scott Coopwood taking his place as chair. Other returning Wildlife Commission members are Gary Rhoades and William Mounger.
