During the past six months of primary scrambling, I have wished more than once that there were not so many candidates vying for my attention. I finally did my homework and checked into their records, not just the generic messages of campaign fliers and sound bites.

The result: There is a difference between candidates and there is one Democratic candidate who is superbly qualified on environmental and conservation issues: Steve Rowe. He has served as chairman of the Natural Resources Committee in the Legislature, as chairman of the Baxter State Park Authority, and as attorney general.

In those capacities he has consistently fought to protect the quality of Maine’s air and water and to conserve land that defines Maine’s unique character.

As attorney general, he brought landmark cases ensuring states’ rights on regulation of greenhouse gases and dam re-licensing.

I will be voting for him on June 8.

Bonnie Lounsbury, Auburn