Senate committee advances nominees to state wildlife, land, livestock-loss and veterinary boards

The Arizona Senate Committee on Natural Resources on May 19 recommended a slate of nominees to the full Senate for consideration, voting to advance candidates to four state boards after short presentations and questioning.

The committee moved all the nominations it heard forward. Vice Chair (speaker 6) led motions to recommend Michael L. Cravens, Jared Lyman, Nathan R. Reese and Richard D. Williams to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board; to recommend Darren Michael Rasmussen to the State Land Department Board of Appeals; to recommend Steven Clark and Randy Dahl to the Livestock Loss Board; and to recommend Carolyn M. Ratajak and Stephanie L. Teske to the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. Committee roll calls were recorded as affirmative for each motion and the nominees were returned to the full Senate for consideration.

Why it matters: The Game and Fish recommendation board vets candidates for the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the State Land Board of Appeals oversees appraisal and disposition of state trust lands, the Livestock Loss Board administers compensation for wolf depredation, and the Veterinary Medical Examining Board sets licensing and disciplinary rules for veterinarians and related premises. These bodies influence wildlife management, land valuation and animal-health regulation across Arizona.

Nominees and committee exchanges

Michael L. Cravens, a Parks, Arizona resident with a bachelor’s degree in ecology, said he would take a “pragmatic and balanced” approach to wildlife management and stressed working with people who live and work on the landscape. “I am very pragmatic when it comes to management of these resources,” Cravens said. Committee members asked how his work with the Arizona Wildlife Federation would inform his role; Cravens replied that he represents the public and would bring perspectives from different user groups.

Jared Lyman described production-agriculture and Bureau of Land Management experience and said he would evaluate candidates honestly and without bias. A written statement from Nathan R. Reese, who could not attend, summarized a decade of restoration work with Trout Unlimited and said he would recommend candidates who protect wildlife and habitat. Richard D. Williams, an eight-year incumbent and current board chairman, described his record and sought reappointment.

Darren M. Rasmussen, nominated to the State Land Department Board of Appeals, described 30 years in the Phoenix area and experience at the Arizona Department of Revenue and Maricopa County appraisal offices. Senators pressed him on ensuring consistent statutory-compliant appraisals across rural and urban areas; Rasmussen said his background supports a structured, transparent valuation process.

Steven Clark, a past chairman of the Livestock Loss Board, outlined the board’s compensation process — which relies on US Fish and Wildlife Service verification of wolf kills — and said the board frequently works with ranchers to set compensation rates. When asked about the Mexican gray wolf program, Clark said wolves rarely move outside intended ranges and that Arizona has had no human attacks. Asked for a five-year tally of livestock harmed, Clark said, “Right off the top of my head, I would say about a 100 livestock have been killed,” and stated that each of those, to his knowledge, had received compensation.

On the veterinary board, Carolyn M. Ratajak described six years on the investigative committee and two years as its chair and said she has “a good working knowledge of both the statutes and the rules that are applied to the disciplinary action for veterinarians.” Stephanie L. Teske, a sixth‑generation rancher and former veterinary assistant, said a top priority is addressing the shortage of veterinarians in rural Arizona and noted telemedicine and recruitment as areas of concern.

Votes at a glance

- Michael L. Cravens — Recommend to full Senate for Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board: committee vote 7 ayes, 0 nays, 1 not voting.
- Jared Lyman — Recommend to full Senate for Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board: committee motion passed (vote recorded affirmative).
- Nathan R. Reese — Recommend to full Senate for Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board: committee motion passed (nominee absent; statement read).
- Richard D. Williams — Recommend to full Senate for Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board: committee vote 7 ayes, 0 nays, 1 not voting.
- Darren M. Rasmussen — Recommend to full Senate for State Land Department Board of Appeals: committee motion passed; nominee returned to full Senate for consideration.
- Steven Clark — Recommend to full Senate for Livestock Loss Board: committee vote 7 ayes, 0 nays, 1 not voting.
- Randy Dahl — Recommend to full Senate for Livestock Loss Board: committee vote 7 ayes, 0 nays, 1 not voting.
- Carolyn M. Ratajak — Recommend to full Senate for Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board: committee vote recorded as affirmative.
- Stephanie L. Teske — Recommend to full Senate for Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board: committee vote recorded as affirmative.

What to watch next: The committee forwarded each nominee to the full Senate for confirmation. The Livestock Loss Board testimony included data and assertions about Mexican gray wolves and compensation that legislators may follow up on; the veterinary-board exchanges flagged rural veterinary access as an ongoing policy concern.

Sources: testimony and questions recorded during the Senate Natural Resources Committee confirmation hearing, May 19, 2026.