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Mills Nominates Maine's Wildlife Division Director To Head Fisheries And Wildlife Department

Courtesy Gov.-elect Janet Mills' office

Maine Gov.-elect Janet Mills announced Wednesday that she's nominating the Director of Wildlife at Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to lead the department. If confirmed, Judy Camuso would be the first woman to lead the department.

Camuso says that she is honored to be chosen for the job. She has worked at the department for more than a decade, and has also been special projects coordinator and a wildlife biologist at the agency.

Mills says Camuso has the experience and knowledge to lead IFW and was recommended by her search committee.

“I didn’t know her before,” Mills says. “I don’t think I had ever met her before. I was very impressed with her, personally, professionally. She comes with great credentials.”

Mills acknowledges that Camuso will need to learn about other divisions of IF&W.

“She will have to, ah…spread her wings a bit to get a handle on the fisheries side of things more than the wildlife side of things,” Mills says. “She is more than capable of doing that. She is very, very bright.”

Camuso will appear at a hearing before the Fisheries And Wildlife Committee next month, and the Maine Senate must endorse her nomination.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.