6/25 Senate Election Pits "Politics-As-Usual" Vs. People

June 20, 2013 - The Recreational Fishing Alliance today announced its official endorsement of Gabriel Gomez in the race for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts.

The election will be held this Tuesday, June 25th and pits the republican Gomez against long-time House democrat Ed Markey in the race to fill the remainder of Secretary of State John Kerry's U.S. Senate term in Massachusetts.

The son of Colombian immigrants and a former Navy pilot and Navy SEAL platoon leader, Gomez and his family live in Cohasset, MA where he has been active in the local community for many years. RFA officially announced its support for Gomez on May 20th when RFA executive director Jim Donofrio referred to Gomez as "the next generation of leadership in Washington DC, part of a youth movement of common-sense American citizens who understand how an onerous tax law and over-burdensome regulatory framework impacts our small businesses."

With just days to go before Tuesday's election, RFA is hoping that coastal fishermen who have been hammered by over-burdensome government regulation and bureaucracy in recent years will find sea change at the polls on Tuesday through overwhelming Massachusetts support for Gomez.

"After speaking with Gabriel Gomez regarding the problems we're facing in our industry and the way the federal law is written I am convinced that we will have a dedicated, hard-working U.S. Senator willing to take a serious look at the problems facing the recreational and commercial sectors in gaining access to healthy, rebuilding fisheries," Donofrio said. "The disciplines that Gabe has gained in his life will fare well in an undisciplined arena down in Washington DC."

Donofrio said Markey has been a staunch opponent of federal fisheries management flexibility as a member the House Natural Resources Committee, and has spent more of his time as Massachusetts representative in Congress pushing for cap and trade fisheries policies while upholding strict, arbitrary requirements within the federal fisheries law.

"Mr. Markey and his ilk have run amok, these self-serving elitists who care little about the fishermen or the jobs in our coastal fishing communities, not just in Massachusetts but throughout the coastal United States," Donofrio said, adding "it's going to take a strong, independent U.S. Senate presence to get these things fixed."

"We already know very well about Gabe's leadership qualities as a Navy SEAL and his business acumen in the private sector, these are qualities sorely needed in Washington today," Donofrio added.

According to the latest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) data for 2011, there are approximately 323,000 saltwater anglers in Massachusetts, each one who spends about $500 on average on the local economy to catch saltwater fish. The total economic output from an estimated 4 million angler trips a year amounts to more than $283.5 million on saltwater fishing trips and equipment expenditures.

"Obviously, having boats tied to the dock is hurting seaside communities," Donofrio said.

"RFA is urging Massachusetts anglers to turn out at the polls on Tuesday, June 25 in a vote against Markey's anti-fishing alliances, and in proud support of a young man named Gabriel Gomez who has true leadership experience, common sense, and a proud background in support of a nation as a Navy SEAL platoon leader."

On Friday, June 21 at 12:30 pm at the Gloucester House Restaurant in Gloucester, MA, fishermen are encouraged to attend a press conference with U.S. Senate Candidate Gabriel Gomez.