DENVER  -  Governor Bill Owens announced today the appointment of Marianna M. Raftopoulos of Craig, Robert N. Shoemaker of Canon City and Rick M. Enstrom of Lakewood to the Colorado Wildlife Commission.

"It was my pleasure to appoint these three very qualified people to the Wildlife Commission," Owens said. "All three individuals have experience with issues impacting wildlife here in Colorado."

Marianna Raftopoulos, a Republican, will serve from District 1 for a term expiring March 1, 1999. She has been a Moffat County Commissioner since 1996 and served for eight years as a member and president of the Moffat County United Way.

Robert Shoemaker, a Democrat, will serve as a representative of agriculture from District 4 for a term expiring March 1, 2002. As a former state representative from 1975 to 1988 and again from 1993 to 1994, Robert Shoemaker sponsored water and land trade legislation. Shoemaker is currently a rancher and has spent 54 years ranching and farming in Colorado.

Rick Enstrom will serve as a representative of sportsmen from District 5, as an Unaffiliated, effective March 1, 1999 to March 1, 2003. Enstrom owns and operates Enstrom Candies of Denver and is a member of the Colorado Wildlife Federation. He served as a Mesa County Commissioner from 1978-1982.

The Wildlife Commission is an eight-member board appointed by the governor. It is responsible for regulations and policies for hunting, fishing, watchable wildlife, and nongame, threatened and endangered species. The Division of Wildlife receives no state tax revenue.