Former IF&W chief named to N.H. post

CONCORD, N.H. – Gov. Craig Benson on Wednesday nominated the former commissioner of Maine’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department to head the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Lee Perry, who served in the top wildlife post until February, would fill the remaining two years of a post left vacant by the resignation of Wayne Vetter.

Vetter decided to leave the $84,000-a-year post in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace, which he denied. He was suspended without pay for six months beginning in November 2002.

“He comes very highly recommended,” said Benson, who met Perry last week.

A four-member selection committee appointed by then-Fish and Game Commission Chairman Dick Moquin chose Perry, who lives in Wayne, Maine, and who worked for the Arizona Game and Fish Department from 1973 until he became Maine’s commissioner in 1997.

Then-Maine Gov. Angus King appointed Perry. Current Maine Gov. John Baldacci replaced him when his term began.