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.
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)
Attorney Newell Augur filed a complaint on behalf of his client, No on 12, who is opposing question 12 on the November municipal ballot in York. No on 12 alleges the expenses made by Yes on 12 to promote the referendum required it to register and file campaign finance reports with the Commission as a ballot question committee. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommend taking no action on this complaint because the information provided by Yes on 12 indicates it stayed under the $5,000 threshold to qualify as a ballot question committee. Additional Materials Additional Materials
Decided: To move the placement of the link to the report on the website constitutes an in-kind contribution, therefore finding Yes on 12 is a Ballot Question Committee constituting a violation (vote 2-3)
Building the Maine House is a political action committee that was required to file the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report on May 31, 2024. It filed the report 46 days late on July 16, only after the Commission staff initiated an enforcement proceeding. Commission staff initiated the penalty process because the PAC has a unique history of not filing reports on time. Commission staff recommends consideration of a civil penalty or other enforcement action for the failure to file the 11-Day Pre-Primary Report within 30 days of the filing deadline.
Decided: To find the report was filed over 30-days late (vote 3-0)
Due to a 2023 law change, persons raising or spending more than $5,000 to influence a municipal ballot question (BQC) in a town or city with a population of less than 15,000 must register with the Commission and file campaign finance reports. In response to a complaint, at its April 18, 2024 meeting the Commission authorized department staff to investigate groups that were financially active in supporting and opposing an April 24, 2024 school construction referendum in the Boothbay region. Staff will report back to the Commission on its findings that Citizens for a Bright Future for the Boothbay Region should have registered and filed a report as a BQC. Staff recommendation: staff recommends…
Decided: To find the Citizens for a Bright Future filed their registration late, filed their initial campaign finance report late and lacked the proper disclaimer on their lawn signs. (vote 4-0)
Scott Girardin is a candidate for the Maine House of Representatives, District 92. To qualify for Maine Clean Election Act funding, he submitted qualifying contributions and supporting documentation to the Commission on April 22, 2024, the last day of the qualifying period. On May 1, 2024, Commission staff determined that he was not eligible to receive the funding because he did not submit proof that 30 contributors were registered to vote in House District 92. On May 3, 2024, Mr. Girardin appealed the staff determination to the Commission.
Decided: To rule that Mr. Girardin did not fulfill the requirements to become a clean election candidate. (vote 4-0)
The Commission will consider whether a flyer mailed in October 2022 that was critical of a candidate for State Representative contained the required disclaimer and whether the people responsible should have filed an independent expenditure report.
Decided: To find there was a violation of the disclaimer requirement. (vote 5-0)
The Commission staff seeks authorization of the Commission to investigate three charges made to the campaign checking account of a Maine Clean Election Act candidate which the candidate describes as unauthorized, and any other reporting or other violations arising out of the candidate’s 2022 campaign. The Commission exited executive session at 10:58 a.m.
Decided: Pursuant to Title 1 of the Maine Revised Statutes, section 405(4), I move that we go into executive session pursuant to Title 1, sections 405 (6)(A) and (F) and section 1005, to discuss an investigation of potential violations of the Maine Clean Election Act and information contained in records made, maintained or received by the Commission which are confidential pursuant to Title 21-A, section 1003 (3-A). (vote 5-0 at approximately 10:40 a.m.)
In 2022, Frank Roma participated in the Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA) program as a candidate for the Maine House of Representatives. He used $943.00 in personal funds to pay campaign debts, intending to be reimbursed by the campaign. Confusion over the two bank accounts resulted in the campaign having insufficient MCEA funds to repay the debts. Mr. Roma consequently spent more than he was authorized as an MCEA candidate. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommends finding Mr. Roma violated 21-A M.R.S. § 1125(6) and assessing a penalty in the range of $200 - $400.
Decided: To find that Mr. Roma violated 21-A M.R.S. § 1125(6). (vote 5-0)
Mr. Rommy Haines filed a complaint asserting that a mailing sent in support of Rep. Susan Bernard’s campaign for State Senate, District 1 lacked the required disclosure concerning who paid for the mailing and whether it had been authorized by the candidate.
Decided: That the campaign was in violation of 21-A M.R.S. § 1014 (1). (vote 5-0)
Paul R. LePage is a candidate for governor in the 2022 elections. He was required to file the 42-Day Pre-Primary Report by 11:59 p.m. on May 3, 2022, but the report was not filed until May 4, 2022, one day late. The preliminary penalty is $9,091.83. The campaign is requesting a waiver of the penalty.
Decided: To find that the campaign violated 21-A M.R.S. § 1017(2)(B) when it failed to file the statutorily required report by the deadline. (vote 5-0)
Ethan Alcorn was an unenrolled candidate for governor. He was required to file the 42-Day Pre-Primary Report by 11:59 p.m. on May 3, 2022, but the report was not filed until May 4, 2022, one day late. The preliminary penalty is $200. He is requesting a waiver of the penalty.
Decided: To find that the campaign violated 21-A M.R.S. § 1017(2)(B) when it failed to file the statutorily required report by the deadline. (vote 5-0)
During May 23 – June 3, 2022, U.S. Term Limits (USTL) sent mailings referring to nine candidates who were opposed in the June 14, 2022 Republican primary election for Maine House of Representatives and Maine Senate. The organization explains the purpose of the mailings was to promote congressional term limits and highlight the candidates’ positions on the issue. Because the communications were disseminated within the 28 days before the primary, U.S. Term Limits requests a determination from the Commission that their mailings are not to be considered independent expenditures.
Decided: A finding that the communications in this case are independent expenditures and that USTL has not rebutted the presumption. (vote 5-0)
Complaint Alleging a Legislative Conflict of Interest
The Commission will meet in executive session pursuant to 1 M.R.S. § 1013(3-A) to consider whether to take action on a complaint alleging that a Legislator engaged in a violation of legislative ethics as defined in 1 M.R.S. § 1014(1).
Decided: To go into executive session pursuant to 1 MRSA § 1013 (3-A) and 1 MRSA § 1005 to discuss a complaint against a legislator alleging a violation of legislative ethics. (vote 5-0)
During October-November 2020, Liberty Initiative Fund – Maine PAC made contributions to We the People PAC totaling $115,000 to promote a citizen initiative concerning eligibility to vote in state elections. Because the contributions totaled more than $100,000, We the People PAC was required to notify Liberty Initiative Fund – Maine PAC in writing of its duty to file a Major Contributor Report with the Commission. The report was not filed until April 2021 after an inquiry by the Commission staff. The Commission will consider whether either PAC violated the major contributor disclosure law.
Decided: To find a violation of 21-A § 1060-A(2), that the We the People PAC failed to provide a copy of the Notice to Major Contributor to the Commission. (vote Withdrawn)
On November 18, 2020, the Clean Energy Matters PAC received a contribution of $813,000 from Avangrid relating to an initiative that was submitted to the Secretary of State on September 16, 2020. The Commission staff believes the contribution required the PAC to provide notice to Avangrid of its obligation to file a Major Contributor Report with the Commission by November 23, 2020. The PAC contends that no notice was required because the PAC had provided a similar notice in connection with a previous contribution by Avangrid. The PAC requests a waiver of the $50,000 preliminary penalty. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommended reducing the penalty to $5,000.
Decided: To find a violation of Title 21-A, section 1060-A(2) because Clean Energy Matters failed to give notice within five days of receiving the $813,000 contribution from Avangrid, which occurred on November 18, 2020. (vote 5-0)
The Commission will consider a complaint that signs promoting a candidate in a March 9, 2021 special election lacked a required statement of who made or financed the expenditure for the signs.
Decided: To find a violation of 21-A MRS § 1014(1) in that the four electronic signs did not have the required statement of who authorized the message itself.
Edward Youngblood has filed a request that the Commission investigate if the Gideon Leadership political action committee violated Maine election law in 2015 and 2016 by making six contributions in the name of Sara Gideon. Amended Motion: To find that the Gideon Leadership PAC violated 21-A M.R.S. § 1004-A(3) by making a contribution in the name of another. Made by: Mr. Lee Seconded by: Mr. Pattershall Vote: 3-0 Motion: To assess a $500 penalty. Made by: Mr. Nass Seconded by: Mr. Pattershall Vote: 3-0
Decided: To not request an investigation be conducted of the complaint involving a violation of legislative ethics because of the statute of limitations. (vote 3-0)