Gov. John Baldacci is withdrawing his nomination of Deborah Aldridge for appointment to the Board of Pesticides Control at her request.

The move comes a day after the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry rejected her nomination by a vote of 7-to-3. Aldridge, an organic blueberry grower in Jonesboro, would have needed a two-thirds vote in the Senate to be confirmed.

Aldridge is believed to be the first nominee to be rejected for confirmation by the committee since the current board structure was established in 1980.

Aldridge would have filled the seat that had been held by another organic farmer. It is one of two seats on the seven-member board that must be filled by members who has demonstrated interest in environmental protection.

The governor was very disappointed with the committee vote, said David Farmer, Baldacci's spokesman.

Heather Spalding, associate director of Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, said her impression was that committee members did not want organic farming to be represented on the board.