Genevieve McDonald

Genevieve Kurilec McDonald (born 1982) is an American Democratic politician, lobster boat captain, and fisheries advocate from Maine. In 2018, she was the first female commercial fisherman to be elected to the Maine House of Representatives. McDonald represented House District #134: Cranberry Isles, Deer Isle, Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, North Haven, Southwest Harbor, Stonington, Swan's Island, Tremont, Vinalhaven, and Marshall Island. In 2013, she successfully led a social media campaign to prompt fishing gear producer Grundéns to produce commercial fishing gear for women. In June 2014, McDonald became the first woman to serve on the Maine Department of Marine Resources Lobster Advisory Council (LAC). McDonald resigned her House seat effective on May 10, 2022, the day after the last Legislative Day of the Second (and final) Regular Session of the 130th Maine Legislature.

Genevieve McDonald
Member of the Maine House of Representatives
from the 134th district
In office
December 5, 2018 – May 10, 2022
Preceded byWalter Kumiega
Succeeded byHolly Eaton
Personal details
Born1982
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic

Early life and education

McDonald was born in 1982 in Bar Harbor.[1]

McDonald enrolled in the University of Maine in 2013, graduating in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in University Studies with a minor in Maine Studies,[1][2] explaining that by enrolling she "wanted to be able to better facilitate communication between the commercial fishing industry and the scientific community."[3]

In June 2014, McDonald was appointed the Down East region's representative to the Maine Department of Marine Resources Lobster Advisory Council (LAC). She is the first woman to serve on the LAC.[4][5]

Women's fishing gear campaign

In 2013, McDonald, frustrated with constantly having to modify ― and therefore compromise the effectiveness of ― her "unisex" fishing gear for a better fit, began a social media campaign to connect women fishermen and help them put pressure on manufacturers to produce better-fitting gear for women. When she met a representative from leading fishing gear company Grundéns USA at a trade show and inquired about production of women's gear, he abruptly dismissed the suggestion. McDonald posted a recap of the incident on social media, which went viral. Through her "Chix Who Fish" Facebook group, McDonald collected over 1,000 photos of women fisherman from around the world and sent a presentation of their photos to Grundéns.[3] The president of Grundéns USA reached out and sent her a prototype jacket from their upcoming Sedna gear line for women.[6][7][4][1] In 2018, Eric Tietje, Grundéns global product director, credited McDonald's campaign, including her "Chix Who Fish" Facebook group, with inspiring the company's decision to launch the Sedna line.[8]

Maine House
The Maine State Capitol

McDonald says she was inspired to run for the House after completing a Washington, D.C. travel course at the University of Maine.[1], and also credits her tenure on the LAC with first introducing her to state-level advocacy.[3] She announced her candidacy for Maine House District #134 in February 2018, filling a seat vacated by Walter Kumiega, who had termed out and approached her about running in his place.[9][3] District #134 represents Maine's largest lobster ports and consists of waterfront towns and islands.[10]

McDonald ran unopposed in the 2018 House District #134 Democratic primary and defeated Republican Philip Brady 67%-33% in the general election.[2] During her first term, McDonald served on the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources and the Maine Climate Council Working Group on Community Resiliency, Emergency Planning and Public Health.[2]

In January 2020, McDonald announced a re-election bid.[11] She defeated fellow Democrat Julie Eaton 75%-25% in the District #134 primary and ran unopposed in the general election.[12] In her second term she continued to serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources and was assigned as the House chair of the Government Oversight Committee.[13] In April 2021, McDonald was appointed to the Coastal and Marine Working Group of the Maine Climate Council.[14]

McDonald announced her candidacy for Maine Senate District 7 in January 2022,[15] but later withdrew her candidacy. She resigned her House seat effective on May 10, 2022.[16]

Science-fishing relations

McDonald has described both improving the relationship between scientists and fishermen[17] and addressing impacts of climate change on the fishing industry as two of her continued legislative priorities.[11] She has strongly advocated for national policies that both protect the endangered right whale and protect Maine's lobster fisheries,[18][19] and collaborates with scientists on the water whenever possible.[17] McDonald is the fisheries liaison to the New England Aqua Ventus project, which has proposed a floating wind array off the coast of Maine.[20][21][22]

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, McDonald played a leadership role in helping many of her fellow fishermen secure Paycheck Protection Program loans and access Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to help weather financial losses.[23][24]

In late June 2020, McDonald corrected several of then-president Donald Trump's tweets regarding his administration's contributions to Maine's fishing industry. Her Tweeted responses went viral, the first one receiving over 100,000 retweets.[25]

Personal life

McDonald married her husband in September 2012[17] and they live in Stonington with their two daughters.[1][2]

In 2019, Belfast artist Susan Tobey White included McDonald with a dozen other women fishermen in a series of paintings titled "Lobstering Women of Maine."[26]

Electoral history
2018 Maine House District 134 Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Genevieve McDonald 1,034 100%
Total votes 1,034 100.0%
2018 Maine House District 134 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Genevieve McDonald 3,111 66.8%
Republican Philip Brady 1,547 33.2%
Total votes 4,658 100.0%
2020 Maine House District 134 Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Genevieve McDonald 1,246 75.1%
Democratic Julie Eaton 414 24.9%
Total votes 1,660 100.0%
2020 Maine House District 134 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Genevieve McDonald 4,445 100.0%
Total votes 4,445 100.0%

References
  1. Staples, Beth (7 May 2019). "Genevieve McDonald — a lobster boat captain and legislator — to graduate with highest distinction". The University of Maine. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  2. "Rep. Genevieve McDonald seeks re-election to House District 134". Pen Bay Pilot. 11 March 2020. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. "Women on the Water: Genevieve McDonald, Commercial Lobster-woman, State Rep, & Mom of Twins". YouTube. US Harbors. 13 May 2020. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. Griffin, Nancy (April 2015). "New leaders in Maine's lobster fishery: Genevieve McDonald, Stonington". Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. Van Allen, Jennifer (5 October 2014). "Maine women welcome a sea of opportunities". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  6. Kevin, Brian (11 May 2015). "Oil Gear Agitator". Down East. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  7. McDonald, Genevieve (9 February 2014). "From The Dock: Fishing Women Need The Right Work Clothes". Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  8. Mangini, Stephanie (9 April 2018). "Grundens Gear Fit for Women". Alaska Fish Radio. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  9. "McDonald announces bid for Kumiega's seat". Mount Desert Islander. 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  10. Hathaway, Jessica (8 November 2018). "Maine elects first woman commercial fisherman rep". National Fisherman. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  11. "Rep. McDonald announces re-election campaign". The Ellsworth American. 14 January 2020. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  12. "Genevieve McDonald". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  13. "Representative Genevieve McDonald". Maine House Democrats. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  14. "Rep. McDonald appointed to Maine Climate Council working group". Penobscot Bay Pilot. 5 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  15. "McDonald announces candidacy for Senate". The Ellsworth American. 27 January 2022. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  16. "Genevieve McDonald". Maine House of Representatives. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  17. Paquette, Sarah (29 June 2012). "New Recruit: It All Started With A Dare". Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  18. McDonald, Genevieve (19 July 2019). "Rep. McDonald: Federal rules would hurt lobstering, but do little for whales". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  19. Landrigan, Leslie (25 February 2021). "Whale rule proposals bring fear and anxiety". Island Ad-Vantages. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  20. Hathaway, Jessica (25 January 2021). "Maine's governor requests 10-year moratorium on wind permits in state waters". National Fisherman. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  21. Bever, Fred (22 March 2021). "Lobstermen Circle Survey Vessel As Wind Protests Escalate". Maine Public. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  22. "Maine wind development survey allegedly disrupted". Associated Press. 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  23. Overton, Penelope (19 July 2020). "1 in 3 Maine lobstermen lands federal pandemic loan". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  24. Landrigan, Leslie (17 September 2020). "Maine lobstermen to harvest $50 million windfall". Penobscot Bay Press. Island Ad-Vantages. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  25. McCauley, Lauren (25 June 2020). "Maine lobster boat captain and legislator calls out Trump's false tweets". Maine Beacon. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  26. "Museum exhibit showcases women who lobster". MaineBoats.com. 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
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