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.
As a candidate for the Maine House of Representatives, Michelle Tucker was required to file a personal financial disclosure by August 17, 2026 stating the sources of her personal income in 2025 and other information. She did not file the report after receiving multiple emails and two letters. Ms. Tucker requests a waiver of the $100 late filing penalty. Staff recommendation: Commission staff recommend reducing the penalty to $50.
Decided: To find the personal financial discloser was filed late and reduce the penalty to $50. (vote 4-0)
Seth Berry filed a complaint with the Commission regarding a campaign ad in the Richmond town newsletter that was purchased by House candidate David Guilmette. The ad lacked any statement of who paid for it. Mr. Guilmette describes this as an oversight. Staff recommendation: Commission staff recommend finding that Mr. Guilmette violated 21-A M.R.S. § 1014(1) and that any penalty not exceed $90.
Decided: To find the ad was missing proper disclosure and reduce the penalty to $50. (vote 4-0)
Derek Levasseur, an unenrolled candidate for Governor, was required to file the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report on May 29, 2026. His treasurer filed the report on June 1. Mr. Levasseur requests a waiver of the preliminary penalty of $1,026.25. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommend reducing the penalty to $350.
Decided: To find the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report was filed late and reduce the penalty of $350 (vote 4-0)
Rep. James Thorne, a candidate for the Maine House of Representatives, was required to file the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report on May 29, 2026. His treasurer filed the report on June 1. Rep. Thorne requests a waiver of a preliminary penalty of $34.50. Staff recommendation: the staff recommends not reducing the preliminary penalty because it is already below the range of penalties usually assessed when a report is filed late.
Decided: To find the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report was filed late and reduce the penalty of $34.50 (vote 4-0)
Doug Thomas, a candidate for the Maine House of Representatives, was required to file the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report on May 29, 2026. His treasurer filed the report on June 1. Mr. Thomas requests a waiver of a preliminary penalty of $40.50. Staff recommendation: the staff recommends not reducing the preliminary penalty because it is already below the range of penalties usually assessed when a report is filed late.
Decided: To find the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report was filed late and assess a penalty of $40.50 (vote 4-0)
John Glowa, Sr., an unenrolled candidate for Governor, was required to file the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report on May 29, 2026. He filed the report on May 30. Mr. Glowa requests a waiver of a preliminary penalty of $60.56. Staff recommendation: the staff recommends not reducing the preliminary penalty because it is already below the range of penalties usually assessed when a report is filed late.
Decided: To find the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report was filed late and assess a penalty of $60.56 (vote 4-0)
The campaign of Nirav Shah for Governor is requesting that the Ethics Commission investigate text messages received on June 6, 2026 urging support for Hannah Pingree, Troy Jackson, and Shenna Bellows in the Democratic primary election. The text messages do not contain a statement of who paid for them. Additional Material - Response from VoteRise PAC
Decided: To find the communications from VoteRise violated the attribution requirement and to access a $100 civil penalty. (vote 4-0)
The Commission received a complaint about a 2026 candidate for Sheriff of Oxford County, Frank Mawson Blauvelt, Jr. In October and December 2025, Mr. Blauvelt made some purchases from a printer for outdoor advertising items (signs, etc.) but was unaware that required registering as a candidate with the Commission. The Commission will consider whether Mr. Blauvelt was late registering as a candidate and filing his first campaign finance report, and whether to take action at the June 1 meeting.
Decided: To find Mr. Blauvelt registered late and assess a penalty of $100. (vote 4-0)
Grow Maine PAC was six days late in filing the April Quarterly campaign finance report due April 10, 2026. The PAC requests a waiver of the $1,847.52 preliminary penalty due to the PAC’s history of filing campaign finance reports on time, the lack of automated email reminders from the Commission’s new eFiling system, and the reduced harm to the public resulting from the late report. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommends a full or substantial waiver.
Decided: To find the April Quarterly campaign finance report was filed late and reduce the penalty to $100 (vote 4-0)
In 2025, the Maine Democratic Party spent around $170,000 to oppose Question 1 on the November 4, 2025 ballot, which was a citizen initiative to restrict absentee voting. The party disclosed its financial transactions opposing Question 1 in its four quarterly campaign finance reports but did not file additional reports that were required because of the party’s activities against the initiative. Staff recommendation: the staff recommends assessing penalties totaling $9,000 for not filing the 11-day pre-election, 42-day post-election, and three 24-Hour Reports on time.
Decided: To find the five campaign finance reports were filed late and impose a penalty of $9,000 (vote 4-0)