SALEM - A Senate panel approved the appointment of Les AuCoin to the state Board of Forestry, despite Republican concerns that the former congressman is anti-timber.

Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski picked AuCoin last week, saying the choice would "restore balance" to a board that has been criticized for having too many members with ties to the timber industry.

But during an unusually long four-hour hearing Tuesday, rural woodland owners and Senate Republicans strongly opposed AuCoin's appointment to replace Chris Heffernan, an Eastern Oregon rancher and the only small woodland owner on the board.

"Replacing Chris Heffernan with Les AuCoin is a slap in the face to rural Oregon in general and to Eastern Oregon in specific," said Greg Addington of the Oregon Farm Bureau.

However, the Senate Rules Committee, on a straight party-line vote, advanced the appointment to the full Senate for consideration.

Environmental groups back AuCoin. They told the panel that AuCoin is a consensus builder who worked with timber, environmental and tribal groups during his years in Congress.

AuCoin "has the background, expertise and credibility that will help the board better represent the interest of all Oregonians," said Jill Workman of the Oregon chapter of the Sierra Club.

Environmental groups say five of the seven board members have ties to the timber industry, and AuCoin will help bring balance. But woodland owners argue only three current board members are employed in the timber industry, and this appointment will unfairly tip the scales.

During the hearing, many woodland owners said they were concerned about political commentary AuCoin had made as a newspaper columnist and public radio commentator.

Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, one of AuCoin's harshest critics, played an audio tape in which AuCoin said the timber industry was "knowingly trying to dupe an unsuspecting public in an effort to make money" and called the industry "irresponsible monied interests."

"These habits of thought and language are worrisome in a potential appointee to the State Board of Forestry," said Link Phillippi, of Rough & Ready Lumber Company.

AuCoin defended his opinions during questioning from members of the committee.

"I hope we don't want airheads - people with no ideas - representing the state on the board," he said. "I've been an advocate; I've also been in government and I know the difference."

Sen. Roger Beyer, R-Molalla, who owns some forest land, also criticized AuCoin's nomination because he does not represent private forestland owners, which Beyer said traditionally have had a spot on the board.