It's no secret I'm a big fan of Wayne Gilchrest. The Republican Congressman from Maryland is a great example of someone with whom I often agree, even though many staunch environmentalists mistakenly believe they should always turn left. He's a champion of oceans and leader in science policy. He serves as the Chairman on the Fisheries & Oceans Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus and House Coastal Caucus. Gilchrest had a central role in the passage of the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 and the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 2006. The nine-term Congressmen was defeated for renomination in the strongly Republican 1st District by Andy Harris. From Congressional Quarterly:
Gilchrest's defeat will interrupt one of Congress' most unexpected political careers. He has long had one of the strongest claims among members to the title of citizen-politician. Gilchrest was a teacher who worked part-time painting houses to supplement his family's income, and once was a volunteer forest ranger. He said he filed to run for the House in 1988 on an impulse after hearing that the Republican Party was having trouble recruiting a candidate. He lost, but came close to upsetting Democratic Rep. Roy Dyson. Gilchrest then ran again in 1990 and easily won his rematch with Dyson.
Today is a sad day for oceans.
