Maine Property candidates embroiled in battle about anti-lobster teams donation

Congressional candidates in a hotly contested Maine race snipped at each and every other on Tuesday about a contribution from the leader of a conservation group that has discouraged customers from purchasing lobster.

Democratic Rep. Jared Golden is defending his seat in Maine's 2nd Congressional District versus Republican previous Rep. Bruce Poliquin and impartial applicant Tiffany Bond. Poliquin's campaign on Tuesday called on Golden to return a contribution of $667 from Julie Packard, the govt director of Seafood View.

Seafood View, which is based mostly at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California that Packard assisted identified, added American and Canadian lobster to its "pink checklist" of seafood species to steer clear of this summer time since of the danger fishing equipment poses to endangered whales. Poliquin's camp said that listing has brought on financial hardship for fishermen in Maine, where by most of the U.S.'s domestic lobster will come to the docks.

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"Seafood Watch’s warning to buyers to keep away from Maine lobster, on best of forty-12 months large inflation and gasoline price ranges have gouged Maine lobstermen’s paychecks," mentioned Roy Matthews, a Poliquin spokesperson.

Golden's campaign responded that the congressman has no intention to return the income. The campaign cited Golden's opposition to new Countrywide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration whale protection laws as evidence that he has the fishing industry's interests at coronary heart.

Conservation group Seafood Observe, who is actively functioning to take away Maine Lobster from grocery keep shelves, started off political turmoil in Maine just after donating to independent applicant Tiffany Bond. Pictured: Rep. Bruce Poliquin in 2017 (still left), and Democratic Rep. Jared Golden in 2018 (appropriate) in Maine. (G3 Box News Images/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

"Lobstermen know Jared has led the battle versus the outrageous NOAA suitable whale policies, and has been the staunchest defender of the fishery in Congress," reported Bobby Reynolds, a Golden spokesperson.

The race has been an costly just one, with Golden racking up far more than $3.3 million in contributions via June 30, and Poliquin trailing at $2.5 million. Equally candidates have positioned on their own as allies of regular industries this kind of as lobstering in the huge, largely rural district. The 2nd District is the far more politically combined of the state's two districts, as the 1st District is centered all around liberal Portland and is a lot more reliably Democratic.

The race was scheduled for its sole debate that includes all a few candidates on Tuesday evening. The similar a few candidates ran for the similar seat in 2018, and Golden gained through rated-decision voting.

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Bond, who came in 3rd in that race, did not answer to a request for remark. Packard also did not react to a request for comment.