Editor:

Wolf in sheep's clothing:

On July 18, a Montana Federal Court issued an order to halt Wyoming's management of the wolves within the boundaries of our state. As one might expect in this election year, this decision has drawn nearly universal criticism from our politicians seeking elected office.

I was amazed, however, to receive a copy of a press release from Mark Gordon condemning this decision. The Montana Federal Court's decision to remove Wyoming's power to manage the wolves came about because the Sierra Club, among other groups, petitioned the court to make this change. Mr. Gordon has long ties with the Sierra Club including a stint on the national Sierra Club Foundation Board of Directors and as the director of the Sierra Club. Mr. Gordon has also given extensively to the Sierra Club. You can see this Web site for detailed documentation of Mr. Gordon's donations (http://conservablogs.com/wyovotes/2008/04/16/7500-reasons/).

Most Wyomingites don't need to be reminded of the Sierra Club's role in bringing the wolves to Wyoming in the late '80s and early '90s. Then, once the wolves were being introduced, in 1995, the Sierra Club sued, seeking to limit Wyoming's role in managing the wolves. Similar to the 2008 complaint filed in Montana, in 1995 the Sierra Club sued to have the wolf receive full protection under the Endangered Species Act and to remove any management control from the state of Wyoming (see 95-CV-01015).

Despite the Sierra Club's efforts to bring the wolf to Wyoming and despite the Sierra Club's efforts to remove power to manage the wolves from the state of Wyoming, Mr. Gordon continued to serve the Sierra Club and continued to make donations to the Sierra Club.

Mr. Gordon has never acknowledged that he served on the board of the Sierra Club when wolf reintroduction was a key goal of that group. Nor has Mr. Gordon acknowledge that he continued to contribute to the Sierra Club after the Sierra Club brought a lawsuit to remove control of the wolf management from the state of Wyoming.

How is it that a politician that was so involved in this process can now condemn the fruits of the group that he led? Perhaps before Mr. Gordon misrepresents his opponents in shameful attacks, he should address his own history.

MATT MICHELI, Cheyenne