I've known Rep. Joan Welsh for more than 20 years. She is a dedicated member of her community, a proven leader and a strong voice for her constituents.

I first got to know Joan when she was president and CEO of Hurricane Island Outward Bound. In that role, she led a complex organization of more than 500 employees. She exercised strong fiscal management and was a successful team builder.

Joan brought those qualities and experiences with her to the state House of Representatives, where, for the past six years, she has put them to use for the benefit of her district. She understands how to reach across the aisle and work with people with different priorities and points of view. This has enabled her to build a strong legislative record over her three terms – one that any lawmaker would be proud of.

She fought to make the state keep its funding promise to local communities by honoring the longstanding practice of revenue sharing. She knows how hard property taxes hit the middle class and how much Maine's towns and cities rely on these funds to pay for vital services like schools and public safety without hiking taxes on their residents and businesses. She was relentless in her efforts to gain back revenue sharing that the governor had tried to eliminate.

A tireless advocate for the environment, Joan works hard to protect our most valuable assets for the benefit of future generations and the natural resources-based economies that rely on them.

We have seen her do this as House chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, where she shaped and shepherded key environmental and conservation legislation and as a member of the Ocean Acidification Commission, which will advise the Legislature on how to protect Maine's inshore shellfish fisheries and aquaculture industries from the threat of changing ocean chemistry. We also saw this in her working waterfront bill to cut red tape for commercial fishing, boat building and other marine enterprises while protecting the environment. This important proposal passed unanimously in the Legislature and is now law, thanks to Joan's good work.

Joan Welsh is a gem of a lawmaker. I look forward to all she will continue to accomplish in the Maine Legislature.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) lives in North Haven