Lapointe appointment

If there’s a tougher job in Maine than being the state’s marine resources commissioner, we shudder to think of it. Given the pressures of dealing with every manner of marine creature from the ferocious federal fishcrat to the crusty old buster on the town dock, the successful candidate would do well to be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Gov. King took his sweet time coming up with a nomineee for this most crucial position — it’s been vacant for six months — but he put that time to good use. Although the nominee, George Lapointe, has no known aversion to kryptonite, he otherwise has the makings of a darned good commissioner.

Lapointe currently is director of interstate fisheries management for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. He is widely known in Maine as being among that rare breed of regulators — the kind who sees his job as working to develop and maintain a healthy fishing industry, not as stopping fishermen from fishing. He has the background, the experience, the sensibilities and the support of most of the state’s major fisheries associations.

What he does not have, of course, is a Maine driver’s license. It’s Virginia issue. The state senate, as it considers confirming Lapointe later this summer, is sure to hear a lot about that. It should listen politely and make its decision based upon qualifications, not current zip code.

It is unfortunate that Maine could not provide a home-grown commissioner this time around, but it is not inexplicable. Part of it may be due to the talent-drain Maine has inflicted upon itself by failing to invest in its future. Far too many bright young minds that could be invaluable in directing state fisheries policy has gone elsewhere, never to return.

There are several worthy individuals within DMR. Why they did not seek the top job is clear to anyone who has ever attended a Marine Resources hearing; Maine has a small but extremely loud group of fishermen who substitute personal insult and vituperation for thoughtful debate. Anyone who has had a taste of such treatment would be nuts to take it on full-time.

The last commissioner, Robin Alden, made bringing fisheries management down to the fishermen’s level the hallmark of her too-short administration. She did a good job of that, and of balancing the increasing load of federal demands with local concerns, and she got thoroughly abused for her trouble. While the intense travel demands and her desire to spend more time with her family were the primary reasons for her resignation, the venom factor must have been considerable. Maine’s talent pool is not so deep that it can afford to lose good people to contumely.

Senators also will hear complaints that Lapointe is a scientist/manager, not a fishermen. Imagine the uproar from the groundfish sector if the nominee were a lobsterman, or from lobstermen if he or she were a sardine packer. Maine’s fishing industry has enough to deal with without adding turf battles into the mix.

Lapointe has a lot going for him. He believes in setting fishing policy from the bottom up, with the reality of fishing for a living taken into full consideration. He trusts fishermen. He knows his way through the federal regulatory maze. He can work with environmental groups without caving in to unreasonable demands. And, once confirmed, he’ll get the right driver’s license.