New wildlife administrator named

Crawforth was named by state Conservation and Natural Resources Director Pete Morros, who oversees the division. He takes over the $73,000-a-year job from Willie Molini, who's retiring in September.

Morros picked Crawforth over two other candidates, Tom Spalding, the deputy director of the Arizona wildlife agency, and Raymond Lee, a wildlife specialist supervisor for the same agency.

The three had been recommended by the state Wildlife Commission, which had interviewed seven candidates for the job.

Crawforth has worked for the division for 28 years, served as the division's law enforcement chief and game warden supervisor before getting the deputy administrator's post. He also is the division's chief financial officer.

He holds a degree in wildlife management from the University of Nevada, Reno, and also has completed graduate-level work at UNR.

"Terry has an excellent blend of education, wildlife management and financial management skills," Morros said, adding he has demonstrated the ability to coordinate division activities "with the needs of the public in this highly visible environment."

Molini is stepping down from the agency after 30 years, including the last 16 as chief of the agency. He has come under recent criticism from a couple of hunting groups that blamed him for a declining deer population and budget problems.

But Molini rejected the criticisms, saying the groups don't represent most hunters in Nevada. He has defended his management of the state's wildlife, and other wildlife groups speak highly of him and his agency.

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