Maine Sportsmen endorse Allen
Political Desk
October 29, 2008
Portland -- The Tom Allen for Senate Campaign today announced the formation of "Sportsmen for Allen," a group of Maine's leading sportsmen who have endorsed Congressman Allen for the U.S. Senate.
The group's endorsement noted that Allen is a member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, a life-long sportsman and gun owner who values Maine's traditions and a leader who has worked tirelessly in Congress on behalf of Maine's sportsmen.
"I am greatly honored to have the support of these outstanding Maine sportsmen," Allen said. "Since I was a boy, I have hiked and fished the backwoods of Maine. Free, unimpeded access for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other traditional uses is an integral part of Maine's heritage. That is why my family has never posted our farm in Sebago.
"Increasingly, lands that have been available for generations to pursue these activities have been posted off limits to the public. I have introduced legislation specifically aimed at ensuring that future generations will have the same opportunities for outdoor recreation that Maine people have enjoyed for centuries. That is why, earlier this year I introduced the Traditional Use Protection Act, legislation to provide $50 million per year, for five years, in grants to states to purchase land or easements for traditional uses," he added.
Hallowell's Pat McGowan, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation, said Allen understands that Mainers are losing access for traditional uses. "I've seen Tom cast a fly and I've seen him bust a clay pigeon," McGowan said. "He gets it. As a sportsman, I'm voting for Tom Allen."
For several years, Allen has led the bipartisan effort in the House to increase funding for both the Forest Legacy program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. These programs provide federal support to local and regional projects to preserve valuable open space. Here in Maine, the programs match funds provided by Land for Maine's Future, which Maine voters strongly support. Forest Legacy and the Land and Water Conservation Fund have purchased title or easements to guarantee public access to a variety of special places, including the West Branch of the Penobscot, Tumbledown Mountain, and the Machias River.
"As a longtime hunter and fisherman who has spent more than 50 years in the woods and waters of Maine, I support Tom Allen for the United States Senate because he understands that without the protection of undeveloped land, there will be no opportunity to hunt or fish," said Clinton B. "Bill" Townsend of Canaan, President of Maine Rivers and member of the Board of both the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Maine Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.
"Tom's support for funding to acquire and maintain a land base for hunters, and his support for the preservation of working forests which provide both jobs and access to the outdoors, has been vital. He deserves the vote of all of us who care about hunting today and want to preserve the opportunity to hunt for generations to come," Townsend added.
Maine Salmon Commission Chairman Richard Ruhlin of Brewer agreed. "I'm pleased to support him and his bid to be our next U.S. Senator; he has proven himself to be not only thoughtful, intelligent, independent and diligent but also innovative," said Ruhlin, who is also former President of both the Bangor and Eddington Salmon Clubs. "As an active sportsperson he has proven to me that he not only 'talks the talk' but that he can 'walk the walk.'"
Leaders of Sportsmen for Allen:
Pat McGowan, Hallowell. Commissioner, Maine Department of Conservation
Paul Jacques, Waterville. Deputy Commissioner, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Lou Horvath, Brewer. President, Penobscot Salmon Club
Ray "Bucky" Owen, Orono. Former Commissioner, Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Jon Lund, Hallowell. Publisher of the Maine Sportsman.
Ed Pineau, Manchester.
Dick Ruhlin, Brewer. Chair, Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission; Former President, Penobscot and Eddington Salmon Clubs.
Clinton B. "Bill" Townsend, Canaan. President, Maine Rivers; Board Member, Atlantic Salmon Federation; Board Member, Maine Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.
Jim Lane, Dixfield. President, ATV Maine.
Sen. Bruce Bryant, Dixfield. Maine Senate Chair, Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Rep. Troy Jackson, Allagash. Maine House Chair, Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Rep. Thom Watson, Bath. Former Maine House Chair, Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Master Registered Maine Guide.
Bob Ruhlin, Corinth.
Kevin Tracewski, Old Town. Registered Maine Guide and outdoor author.
Bob Noonan, Canaan. Fur trapper and outdoor author.
Tom Hanrahan, Whitefield. Outdoors writer.
Richard Lowe, Eliot. President, Westbrook Rod & Gun Club.
The group's endorsement noted that Allen is a member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, a life-long sportsman and gun owner who values Maine's traditions and a leader who has worked tirelessly in Congress on behalf of Maine's sportsmen.
"I am greatly honored to have the support of these outstanding Maine sportsmen," Allen said. "Since I was a boy, I have hiked and fished the backwoods of Maine. Free, unimpeded access for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other traditional uses is an integral part of Maine's heritage. That is why my family has never posted our farm in Sebago.
"Increasingly, lands that have been available for generations to pursue these activities have been posted off limits to the public. I have introduced legislation specifically aimed at ensuring that future generations will have the same opportunities for outdoor recreation that Maine people have enjoyed for centuries. That is why, earlier this year I introduced the Traditional Use Protection Act, legislation to provide $50 million per year, for five years, in grants to states to purchase land or easements for traditional uses," he added.
Hallowell's Pat McGowan, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation, said Allen understands that Mainers are losing access for traditional uses. "I've seen Tom cast a fly and I've seen him bust a clay pigeon," McGowan said. "He gets it. As a sportsman, I'm voting for Tom Allen."
For several years, Allen has led the bipartisan effort in the House to increase funding for both the Forest Legacy program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. These programs provide federal support to local and regional projects to preserve valuable open space. Here in Maine, the programs match funds provided by Land for Maine's Future, which Maine voters strongly support. Forest Legacy and the Land and Water Conservation Fund have purchased title or easements to guarantee public access to a variety of special places, including the West Branch of the Penobscot, Tumbledown Mountain, and the Machias River.
"As a longtime hunter and fisherman who has spent more than 50 years in the woods and waters of Maine, I support Tom Allen for the United States Senate because he understands that without the protection of undeveloped land, there will be no opportunity to hunt or fish," said Clinton B. "Bill" Townsend of Canaan, President of Maine Rivers and member of the Board of both the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Maine Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.
"Tom's support for funding to acquire and maintain a land base for hunters, and his support for the preservation of working forests which provide both jobs and access to the outdoors, has been vital. He deserves the vote of all of us who care about hunting today and want to preserve the opportunity to hunt for generations to come," Townsend added.
Maine Salmon Commission Chairman Richard Ruhlin of Brewer agreed. "I'm pleased to support him and his bid to be our next U.S. Senator; he has proven himself to be not only thoughtful, intelligent, independent and diligent but also innovative," said Ruhlin, who is also former President of both the Bangor and Eddington Salmon Clubs. "As an active sportsperson he has proven to me that he not only 'talks the talk' but that he can 'walk the walk.'"
Leaders of Sportsmen for Allen:
Pat McGowan, Hallowell. Commissioner, Maine Department of Conservation
Paul Jacques, Waterville. Deputy Commissioner, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Lou Horvath, Brewer. President, Penobscot Salmon Club
Ray "Bucky" Owen, Orono. Former Commissioner, Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Jon Lund, Hallowell. Publisher of the Maine Sportsman.
Ed Pineau, Manchester.
Dick Ruhlin, Brewer. Chair, Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission; Former President, Penobscot and Eddington Salmon Clubs.
Clinton B. "Bill" Townsend, Canaan. President, Maine Rivers; Board Member, Atlantic Salmon Federation; Board Member, Maine Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.
Jim Lane, Dixfield. President, ATV Maine.
Sen. Bruce Bryant, Dixfield. Maine Senate Chair, Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Rep. Troy Jackson, Allagash. Maine House Chair, Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Rep. Thom Watson, Bath. Former Maine House Chair, Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Master Registered Maine Guide.
Bob Ruhlin, Corinth.
Kevin Tracewski, Old Town. Registered Maine Guide and outdoor author.
Bob Noonan, Canaan. Fur trapper and outdoor author.
Tom Hanrahan, Whitefield. Outdoors writer.
Richard Lowe, Eliot. President, Westbrook Rod & Gun Club.
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