Dear Editor:

Since 2012, it has been my honor to work with an honorable, thoughtful and civic-minded legislator. State Sen. Chris Johnson is a remarkable legislator in that he understands the concerns of his constituents and addresses those concerns without fear of the powerful special interests.

In 2013, I was able to assist Sen. Johnson in drafting the genetically modified food right-to-know law. Johnson worked across the aisle with Farmington Republican Representative Harvell to craft a bill to empower Mainers with the right to know what was in their family’s food.

Genetic modification of species is a poorly understood science and GM product’s effects on lab animals are often alarming. Representative Harvell and Senator Johnson understood that Mainers wanted that information disclosed so they could make informed food decisions.

Johnson calmly battled the big money lobbyists hired by front groups for Monsanto and others to fight the law. They had many victories in this nationwide battle before their assault on Augusta. In Maine, and now many other states, Johnson’s thoughtful approach won the day.

The proposal required that a few states join Maine prior to the law going into effect so that Maine was not singled out for litigation by Monsanto. The bill also included an easy-to-follow affidavit system to streamline the regulation for foods difficult to label in which farmers would certify that their seed was not GM seed.

In the end, Johnson’s bill won the day. Despite Gov. Paul LePage’s desire to veto the bill in favor of Monsanto et. al., the proposal was supported by so many Democrats and Republicans that it achieved a veto proof majority in the House and Senate and LePage simply let it become law without his signature.

It is rare today to find a legislator like Johnson, who is so thoughtful about his constituents, so prudent in his approach, and so careful in making new laws user friendly while still forwarding his constituent’s ideas. He displayed great leadership on the GM food issue and I believe that Johnson will continue to admirably serve the people of this Senate District, including most of Lincoln County, for years to come.

Peter W. Drum, attorney

Damariscotta