What the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices took up at its meetings since 2019: late-filing penalties and requests to waive them, complaints and requests to investigate, audits, and what it decided, as its meeting pages record them. A complaint is an allegation; the decision is the Commission's. Items naming someone on this site are also on their page.
Campaign Finance Reporting by State Rep. Richard Campbell
Commission staff suggest obtaining bank statements for the 2022 and 2024 election campaigns of State Representative Richard Campbell in light of conflicting campaign finance reporting about the amount of the Representative’s 2024 surplus campaign funds.
Decided: To authorize the staff to investigate the matter. (vote 4-0)
Criteria for Accepting Qualifying Contributions
Every two years, the Commission staff updates its written procedures for accepting qualifying contributions from candidates seeking Maine Clean Election Act funding and distributes them to the Commission for informational purposes. No action is required by the Commission.
Petition for Maine Clean Election Act Eligibility – Kenneth Capron
Kenneth Capron is a 2026 Republican candidate for Governor who is seeking to qualify for Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA) funding. He paid for services from a political consultant through a transaction that may not meet seed money requirements. Mr. Capron has submitted a petition to remain eligible for MCEA funding. 9-25-2025 Supplemental Response from Kenneth Capron 10-6-2025 Supplemental Response from Kenneth Capron
Decided: To move that Mr. Capron violated the seed money restrictions in 21-A M.R.S. § 1125(2-A), and therefore was ineligible for Maine Clean Election Act funding for this campaign. (vote 4-0)
Legislation to Implement Working Group’s Recommendations
The Commission will consider legislation that would implement the recommendations of a working group formed by the Commission to simplify campaign finance reporting deadlines closer to the general election.
Report on Campaign Finance Constitutional Amendments
The Commission will review a draft report on proposals in the U.S. Congress to amend the federal constitution to allow for greater regulation of how money is raised and spent to influence elections.
Decided: To approve the publication of the report (vote 4-0)
Report on Campaign Finance Constitutional Amendments
On November 7, 2023, Maine voters approved Question 2 which proposed a new section of Maine Election Law forbidding foreign governments from making expenditures or contributions to influence candidate or ballot question elections in Maine. The question also directed the Commission to issue an annual report on proposals in the U.S. Congress to amend the federal constitution to allow for greater regulation of how money is raised and spent to influence elections. The Commission will confirm procedures to be used for the 2025 report.
Proposed Stakeholder Group to Simplify Pre-Election Deadlines
The Commission will discuss convening a working group or stakeholder group to simplify deadlines for 24-Hour and Independent Expenditure reports.
Decided: To move that Commissioner Marble be appointed as Chair of the working group. (vote 5-0)
Proposed Stakeholder Group to Simplify Pre-Election Deadlines
The Commission will discuss a suggestion it received at a previous meeting that the Legislature or the Commission should put together a working group or stakeholder group to discuss the deadlines for 24-Hour and Independent Expenditure reports.
Decided: To convene a stakeholder group to discuss issues about reporting towards the end of election seasons, and to try to uncomplicate them by making recommendations for statute or rule changes. (vote 5-0)
Memo – Supporter Pays for a Mailing
The Commission staff prepared a memo at the request of the Commission giving further consideration to how campaign finance law should be applied when a political group orders a communication to voters and arranges for a supporter to finance it by paying the vendor directly.
Proposed Changes to Maine Campaign Finance Law
The Commission will discuss changes to Maine’s campaign finance laws proposed by the staff of the Commission. Additional Materials
Decided: To direct the staff to submit the proposed changes for the next legislative session (vote 5-0)
Report on Proposals to Amend the U.S. Constitution – Campaign Finance Regulation
On November 7, 2023, Maine voters approved Question 2, which directed the Commission to issue a report by July 31, 2024 on proposals in the U.S. Congress to amend the federal constitution to allow for greater regulation of how money is raised and spent to influence elections.
Decided: To amend the report. (vote 3-1)
Late Notices by Our Power to Two Major Contributors - (Rescheduled)
At its October 25, 2023 meeting, the Commission voted to initiate a rulemaking on proposed amendments to the Commission’s rules. Comments were accepted through December 15, 2023. The Commission will decide whether to adopt the proposed amendments.
Decided: To adopt the proposed amendments to the Commission's Rules. (vote 5-0)
In early 2023, the Commission staff requested that the 110 political action committees (PACs) registered with the Commission verify that the cash balance shown in the summary section of their campaign finance reports accurately stated the balance in their bank accounts as of December 31, 2022. Some PACs had discrepancies between their reported and actual cash balances, which have been resolved. Seven PACs currently have a discrepancy of at least $1,000. The Commission’s Political Committee and Lobbyist Registrar will provide an update.
Decided: To permit the staff to adjust our records to match the actual balance in the Maine Senate Republican Majority PAC funds. (vote 5-0)
Final Adoption of Rule Amendments
The Commission staff recommends completing a major substantive rulemaking initiated by the Commission in October 2022. During the 2023 session, the Maine Legislature authorized the Commission to finally adopt the amendments, except for one policy change which the Legislature preferred to address in statute.
Decided: To adopt the rule changes as recommended. (vote 5-0)
Resolution of Staff Review of 2022 Mark Lawrence Campaign
The Commission staff completed its review of State Senator Mark Lawrence’s 2022 re-election campaign, which was financed with Maine Clean Election Act funds. The bank at which he deposited his campaign funds has explained three unauthorized debits from the campaign account. Sen. Lawrence cooperated with the Commission by fixing some minor errors. Because all issues have been resolved satisfactorily, the staff recommends no further action.
Supplemental Payments of Maine Clean Election Act Funds
Candidate Registrar Erin Gordon will provide information concerning the Commission’s supplemental payments of Maine Clean Election Act funds to candidates.
Maine Clean Election Act Program – Revenue and Candidate Participation
The Commission staff will provide an overview of revenue to the Maine Clean Election Act program and candidate participation.
Commission Policy on Posting Meeting Videos to YouTube
The Commission will consider a request from the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition and the Maine Citizens for Clean Elections for the Commission to make video recordings of its meetings available to the public routinely, rather than upon request.
Proposed Changes to Remote Participation Policy
The Commission will consider changes to its policy concerning remote participation in Commission meetings.
Overview of Maine Clean Election Act Program
In preparation for items that may be scheduled later in 2022, the Commission staff will provide an overview of the Maine Clean Election Act program, including the policy on when candidates may fix qualifying contributions that are defective. No action is required by the Commission.
Decided: There are insufficient grounds to commence an investigation of the complaint against a legislator. (vote 5-0)
Request by State Rep. Jonathan Connor to Participate in Maine Clean Election Act Program for State Senate - WITHDRAWN
Enhanced Compliance Reviews of Leadership PACs
The Commission will discuss continuing the program of enhanced compliance reviews of political action committees.
In 2021, the Maine Legislature amended laws within the Commission’s jurisdiction (campaign finance, personal income reporting by officials, and lobbyist disclosure). Most of the law changes take effect on October 18, 2021, except that new restrictions on contributions by businesses, labor organizations and nonprofits will take effect January 1, 2023.
Discussion of Enhanced Compliance Reviews of Leadership PACs
The Commission will discuss whether to continue conducting enhanced compliance reviews of leadership political action committees (PACs).
Policy on Remote Participation in Commission Meetings
A new law enacted in 2021 authorized members of Maine state boards and commissions to participate remotely in a proceeding if the board or commission has adopted a written policy on participating remotely. The Commission considered a draft policy proposed by staff and comments from members of the public.
Decided: Adopt the policy as presented. (vote No Vote Taken)
Compliance Review of 2020 Leadership PACs
At its November 18, 2020 meeting, the Commission directed its staff to move forward with an enhanced compliance review of 2020 leadership PACs. The Commission’s Political Committee and Lobbyist Registrar, Michael Dunn, conducted the reviews. Mr. Dunn will provide the first of two reports on the results of his reviews. The presentation is intended to be informational, and the Commission staff is recommending no action by the Commission.
Maine First Project – Request to Rebut Independent Expenditure Presumption
On March 1, 2021, Maine First Project, a non-profit organization led by Rep. Larry Lockman, sent a mailer discussing education policy that, among other things, included references to candidates for the Senate District 14 Election. Because the candidates are specifically mentioned in a paid communication disseminated in the last 35-days before the special election, the communications are presumed to be independent expenditures. Maine First Project has filed a statement to rebut the presumption stating that the communications were not intended to influence the candidates’ election. Staff Recommendation: The staff recommended that Maine First Project had rebutted the presumption.
Decided: To find that the communication that was disseminated by Maine First Project was not with the intent to influence the election of a candidate for public office. (vote 5-0)
Public Hearing on Proposed Rule Amendment
The Commission will hold a public hearing to receive comments on a proposed rule amendment to address whether a candidate who has accepted traditional campaign contributions may participate in the Maine Clean Election Act program.
Staff Adjustments to PAC/BQC Reporting
The Commission staff will discuss its past practice of entering an adjustment to the contributions and expenditures reported by PACs and BQCs in order to allow them to dissolve and to correct the cash balance in each report’s financial activity summary going forward.
Rebuttal of Independent Expenditure – Maine First Project
On October 19, 2020, Maine First Project, a non-profit organization led by Rep. Larry Lockman, sent two mailers discussing education policy that, among other things, included references to candidates for the Maine House of Representatives. Because the candidates are specifically mentioned in a paid communication disseminated after Labor Day, the communications are presumed to be independent expenditures. Maine First Project has filed a statement to rebut the presumption stating that the communications were not intended to influence the candidates’ election.
Decided: To find that Rep. Lockman had successfully rebutted the presumption and that the publications that were disseminated were not made as independent expenditures (vote 5-0)
Updated Guidance on Reporting as a Ballot Question Committee
The Commission staff proposes updating the Commission’s guidance on registering and reporting as a ballot question committee.
Decided: To adopt the proposed registration and reporting ballot question committee guidance, as amended. (vote 3-0)
The Commission staff proposes additional guidance relating to paid communications to influence the November 3, 2020 citizen initiative to reject NECEC.
Decided: To adopt the Guidance on Paid Communications Relating to the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) Transmission Project. (vote 3-0)
Presentation to Bradford A. Pattershall, aka William Pattershall, aka Brad Patterson
The Commissioners presented Mr. Pattershall, who resigned on January 31, 2020, with a plaque to commemorate his service on the Commission.
Study Report of Maine Clean Election Act
Candidate Registrar Emma Burke will discuss a study report on the Maine Clean Election Act she completed at the end of 2019. No action required.
Compliance Reviews of 2020 PACs led by Legislators
The Commission discussed plans to conduct compliance reviews of financial activity in 2020 by political action committees which are directed or controlled by a Legislator. No action required.
Public Hearing – Proposed Rule Changes
The Commission held a public hearing to receive comments on proposed changes to the Commission’s Rules concerning reporting campaign debts and disclosure of travel costs and other gifts received by officials. No action required.
Potential Change to Statutory Proposal – Commissioners’ Terms
The Commission discussed a possible modification to one of its 2019 statutory proposals, suggested by Commissioner William A. Lee. No action required.
From the Commission's meeting pages (maine.gov/ethics/meetings). Housekeeping (minutes, rulemaking, legislation) is left out.