The natural resources commissioner is a state-level position. The duties of the position vary from state to state, but their general role is maintaining, protecting, and regulating natural resources; including state parks, forests, and recreation areas.
HIGHLIGHTS
Wyoming does not have a natural resource commissioner. The state's natural resources are overseen by divisions within the statewide agriculture agency.
In Arkansas, New Mexico, and South Dakota, two offices share responsibilities for natural resources management: a nonpartisan office appointed by the governor and a partisan office filled via election.Five states—Arkansas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington—publicly elect a natural resources commissioner. In all other states, the office is nonpartisan and appointed.[1]
Method of selection
All states except Wyoming have a natural resources commissioner who is charged with oversight of the state's natural resources. In 44 states, the natural resources commissioner is a nonpartisan appointee. In 38 of those states, the governor is responsible for appointing the natural resources commissioner, while in the other six some other official or commission holds the power of appointment. In Texas and Washington, the natural resources commissioner is a partisan official who is elected in statewide elections. Arkansas, South Dakota, and New Mexico divide the duties that would fall under the office of natural resource commissioner in other states between two offices; a nonpartisan office appointed by the governor and a partisan office filled via election.
Partisan affiliation
The majority of natural resource commissioner offices are officially nonpartisan; however, natural resource commissioners are selected in partisan elections in five states. Of the five natural resource commissioners with partisan affiliations, 3 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats. In three states with elected natural resource commissioners, some of the office's responsibilities are held by a second nonpartisan natural resource commissioner appointed by the governor.
Compensation
According to compensation figures for 2022 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, the largest salary for a natural resources commissioner is $227,179 in California, while the lowest is $100,000 in West Virginia. Salary information was not available for natural resources commissioners in Oregon and North Dakota. To view the compensation of a specific natural resources commissioner, hover your mouse cursor over the state.
Current officeholders
List of Current Officeholders
List of All Current State Natural Resource Commissioners in the United States:
| Office |
Name |
Party |
Date assumed office |
| Alabama Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Christopher Blankenship |
Nonpartisan |
2017 |
| Alaska Commissioner of Natural Resources |
John Boyle |
Nonpartisan |
January 6, 2023 |
| Arizona Commissioner of Lands |
Robyn Sahid |
Nonpartisan |
January 23, 2023 |
| Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands |
Tommy Land |
Republican |
January 15, 2019 |
| Arkansas Executive Director of Natural Resources Commission |
Chris Colclasure |
Nonpartisan |
September 1, 2021 |
| California Secretary for Natural Resources |
Wade Crowfoot |
Nonpartisan |
2019 |
| Colorado Executive Director of Natural Resources |
Dan Gibbs |
Nonpartisan |
2019 |
| Connecticut Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection |
Katie Scharf Dykes |
Nonpartisan |
2018 |
| Delaware Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control |
Shawn Garvin |
Nonpartisan |
March 15, 2017 |
| Florida Secretary of Environmental Protection |
Shawn Hamilton |
Nonpartisan |
June 4, 2021 |
| Georgia Commissioner of Natural Resources |
Walter Rabon |
Nonpartisan |
August 22, 2023 |
| Hawaii Chairperson of Land and Natural Resources |
Dawn N. S. Chang |
Nonpartisan |
January 1, 2023 |
| Idaho Director of Lands |
Dustin Miller |
Nonpartisan |
2018 |
| Illinois Director of Natural Resources |
Natalie Phelps Finnie |
Nonpartisan |
January 23, 2023 |
| Indiana Director of Natural Resources |
Dan Bortner |
Nonpartisan |
July 29, 2020 |
| Iowa Director of Natural Resources |
Kayla Lyon |
Nonpartisan |
July 8, 2019 |
| Kansas Secretary of Wildlife and Parks |
Chris Kennedy |
Nonpartisan |
March 18, 2024 |
| Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources |
Gordon Slone |
Nonpartisan |
2020 |
| Louisiana Secretary of Natural Resources |
Tyler Gray |
Nonpartisan |
January 8, 2024 |
| Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry |
Amanda Beal |
Nonpartisan |
2019 |
| Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources |
Josh Kurtz |
Nonpartisan |
February 14, 2023 |
| Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs |
Rebecca Tepper |
Nonpartisan |
January 5, 2023 |
| Michigan Director of Natural Resources |
Scott Bowen |
Nonpartisan |
September 5, 2023 |
| Minnesota Commissioner of Natural Resources |
Sarah Strommen |
Nonpartisan |
2019 |
| Mississippi Executive Director of Environmental Quality |
Chris Wells |
Nonpartisan |
October 20, 2020 |
| Missouri Director of Natural Resources |
Dru Buntin |
Nonpartisan |
August 11, 2021 |
| Montana Director of Natural Resources and Conservation |
Amanda Kaster |
Nonpartisan |
January 4, 2021 |
| Nebraska Director of Natural Resources |
Thomas Riley |
Nonpartisan |
November 1, 2020 |
| Nevada Director of Conservation and Natural Resources |
James A. Settelmeyer |
Nonpartisan |
January 6, 2023 |
| New Hampshire Executive Director of Fish and Game |
Scott Mason |
Nonpartisan |
August 5, 2020 |
| New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands |
Stephanie Garcia Richard |
Democratic |
January 1, 2019 |
| New Mexico Secretary of Energy Minerals and Natural Resources |
Melanie Kenderdine |
Nonpartisan |
May 8, 2024 |
| New York Commissioner of Environmental Conservation |
Basil Seggos |
Nonpartisan |
2015 |
| North Carolina Secretary of Environmental Quality |
Elizabeth Biser |
Nonpartisan |
August 24, 2021 |
| Ohio Director of Natural Resources |
Mary Mertz |
Nonpartisan |
December 5, 2018 |
| Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation |
Wade Free |
Nonpartisan |
December 7, 2023 |
| Pennsylvania Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Cindy Adams Dunn |
Nonpartisan |
January 20, 2015 |
| South Carolina Director of Natural Resources |
Robert Boyles |
Nonpartisan |
June 1, 2019 |
| South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands |
Brock Greenfield |
Republican |
January 2, 2023 |
| South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources |
Hunter Roberts |
Nonpartisan |
April 19, 2021 |
| South Dakota Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources |
Vacant |
|
|
| Tennessee Commissioner of Environment and Conservation |
David Salyers |
Nonpartisan |
January 23, 2019 |
| Texas Land Commissioner |
Dawn Buckingham |
Republican |
January 1, 2023 |
| Utah Director of Natural Resources |
Joel Ferry |
Nonpartisan |
July 5, 2022 |
| Vermont Secretary of Natural Resources |
Julie Moore |
Nonpartisan |
January 5, 2017 |
| Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources |
Travis Voyles |
Nonpartisan |
February 8, 2024 |
| Washington Commissioner of Public Lands |
Hilary Franz |
Democratic |
January 11, 2017 |
| West Virginia Director of Natural Resources |
Brett McMillion |
Nonpartisan |
March 9, 2022 |
| Wisconsin Secretary of Natural Resources |
Vacant |
|
|
Election history
2024
- See also: State executive official elections, 2024
One state is holding an election for natural resources commissioner in 2024:
2023
- See also: State executive official elections, 2023
No state held elections for natural resources commissioner in 2023.
2022
- See also: State executive official elections, 2022
Four states held elections for natural resources commissioner in 2022.
2021
- See also: State executive official elections, 2021
No state held elections for natural resources commissioner in 2021.
2020
- See also: State executive official elections, 2020
One state held an election for natural resources commissioner in 2020:
2018
- See also: State executive official elections, 2018
Four states held elections for natural resources commissioner in 2018.
2016
One state
held
natural resources commissioner elections in 2016:
2015
No commissioner elections were scheduled for the 2015 electoral cycle.
2014
Four states held natural resource commissioner elections in 2014.
Arkansas
- See also: Arkansas down ballot state executive elections, 2014#Commissioner of State Lands
Incumbent commissioner John Thurston (R) won re-election to a second term in 2014, defeating challengers Mark Robertson (D) and Elvis D. Presley (L) by a 20.6 percent margin.
New Mexico
- See also: New Mexico down ballot state executive elections, 2014#Public Lands Commissioner
Incumbent commissioner Ray Powell (D) sought re-election to a fourth term in 2014 and was defeated by challenger Aubrey Dunn (R) by a 0.2 percent margin.
South Dakota
- See also: South Dakota down ballot state executive elections, 2014#Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Ryan Brunner (R) defeated John English (L) in the open seat election by a 53 percent margin.
Texas
- See also: Texas down ballot state executive elections, 2014#Land Commissioner
George P. Bush (R) defeated David Watts (R) in the primary election, going on to defeat John Cook (D), Justin Knight (L), and Valerie Alessi (G) in the general election by a 25.4 percent margin.
2013
There were no commissioner elections in 2013.
2012
One state held scheduled natural resources commissioner elections in the 2012 electoral cycle: Washington.
Incumbent Peter Goldmark (D) won re-election on November 6, 2012.
See also
- ↑ In Arkansas, New Mexico, and South Dakota, two offices share responsibilities for natural resource management. In each state, the commissioner of one of those agencies is elected while the other is appointed.
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