Findings
Prompts to look closer at the public records, each with the rule and the law it rests on. None is a finding of wrongdoing. All findings
Context Ethics Commission
Before the Ethics Commission (2026-09-30): Missing “Paid for By” Disclosure in Ad – Candidate David Guilmette
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. The motion: “To find the ad was missing proper disclosure and reduce the penalty to $50.” Vote: 4-0.
What to check- What the Commission decided, in the motion and the minutes
- A complaint is an allegation, not a finding
The Commission's meeting of 2026-09-30The staff memo
Rule: A complaint or other matter before the Ethics Commission
“The commission shall review the application and shall make the investigation if the reasons stated for the request show sufficient grounds for believing that a violation may have occurred.”21-A MRSA §1003(2) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Outside spending
Outside groups spent $38,678 for or against them, more than their campaign's $14,706
Independent expenditures: $37,999 supporting and $679 opposing. The largest: Prosper Maine PAC $16,995 (for); Mainers for Economic Opportunity $10,788 (for); People Over Politics PAC $6,928 (for); Renew the American Dream $2,371 (for).
What to check- Who funds the largest spenders (their own reports to the Commission)
Rule: Outside spending larger than the campaign
“"independent expenditure" means any expenditure made by a person, party committee or political action committee that is not made in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate”21-A MRSA §1019-B(1) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Financial disclosure, 2025
From the personal financial disclosure they filed with the Maine Ethics Commission on August 3, 2026. Maine's form lists sources and positions, not amounts: the law asks for each source of $2,000 or more in the year, and each state agency sold $10,000 or more (1 MRSA §1016-G). Family members aren't named.
Other income
- Maine State Retirement · Retirement Plan or Pension and Annuity
- Social Security · Social Security Benefits
Family members
- A family member: Maine State Retirement · Retirement Plan or Pension and Annuity
- A family member: Social Security · Social Security Benefits
Campaign money: Representative · Clean Election
$14,806raised to date (the Commission's list, October 17, 2026); $8,385 spent
$820itemized in 2025 and 2026, 8 contributions
$100raised before 2026 (their 2025 reports)
$13,886Clean Election funding paid this year
$0from the candidate (incl. loans)
$6,421cash on hand on September 15, 2026 (42 Day Pre General Mcea Report)
Where their contributions come from
100%
IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsTribal nationsPolitical partiesOther candidates and officeholders
Compare with all 2026 candidates →
How it was spent: $8,385
Social media and online ads$2,700
Palm cards, signs, stickers$1,562
Travel$1,555
Other$681
Apparel$475
Events$412
Office and utilities$255
Equipment$236
Newspaper and print ads$180
Food for events and volunteers$175
Largest payees: Spectrum $3,893 Palm cards, signs, stickers · David W Guilmette $1,401 Travel · Todd Hagerman $629 Travel · Quality Copy & Digital Print $576 Palm cards, signs, stickers · Misjefus Holdings, LLC $475 Apparel · Staples $330 Office and utilities · Sam's Club $245 Events · Town of Richmond $240 Newspaper and print ads
Payments in 2026, by the Ethics Commission's expenditure codes.
| Top contributors | Type | Total |
|---|
Total Donations $50 or less
Unknown · Unknown | Person | $150 |
David W Guilmette
retired · Richmond | Person | $100 |
Jeff Pierce
real estate professional · Self Employed · Dresden | Person | $100 |
Brian Roy
agriculture · Self Employed · Bowdoin | Person | $100 |
Todd Hagerman
construction engineering · Self Employed · Saco | Person | $100 |
David J Guilmette
State of Maine · Pittston | Person | $100 |
Julie Hughes
Retired · Richmond | Person | $100 |
Rhonda Malcolm
Unknown · Saco | Person | $70 |
Guilmette, David Wayne on the Ethics Commission's campaign finance search. Itemized transactions: 2026 from the Commission's files as posted October 17, 2026, and 2025 from the campaign's own reports.