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
Worth a look Ethics Commission
Before the Ethics Commission (2023-01-30): Request for Waiver of Late-Filing Penalty – Hon. Mark Lawrence
State Senator Mark Lawrence was a candidate for re-election in the 2022 general election. He was required to file a 24-Hour Report on November 3, 2022. His campaign filed the report on December 21 when completing the post-election campaign finance report. The preliminary penalty is $5,000. In requesting a waiver, Sen. Lawrence stated that the campaign made a mistake due to a combination of demands on his campaign manager. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommends reducing the penalty to $500. The motion: “To reduce the penalty to $500.” Vote: 5-0.
What to check- The Commission's decision, in the motion and the minutes
The Commission's meeting of 2023-01-30The staff memo
Rule: Late-filing penalty before the Ethics Commission
“A campaign finance report is not timely filed unless a properly signed or electronically submitted copy of the report, substantially conforming to the disclosure requirements of this subchapter, is received by the commission by 11:59 p.m. on the date it is due.”21-A MRSA §1020-A(2) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Worth a look Ethics Commission
Before the Ethics Commission (2023-02-28): Reconsideration of Penalty – Hon. Mark Lawrence
At the Commission’s January 30, 2023 meeting, the Commission assessed a $500 penalty against the 2022 re-election campaign of Sen. Mark Lawrence because it had not filed a 24-Hour Report for a reported November 2, 2022 expenditure of $5,000. This was the second of two $5,000 expenditures the campaign reported making to the vendor. Sen. Lawrence has notified agency staff that the November 2, 2022 payment was a duplicate entry, and only one $5,000 payment was made. He requests that the Commission reconsider the $500 penalty. The motion: “To reconsider the penalty matter.” Vote: 5-0.
What to check- The Commission's decision, in the motion and the minutes
The Commission's meeting of 2023-02-28The staff memo
Rule: Late-filing penalty before the Ethics Commission
“A campaign finance report is not timely filed unless a properly signed or electronically submitted copy of the report, substantially conforming to the disclosure requirements of this subchapter, is received by the commission by 11:59 p.m. on the date it is due.”21-A MRSA §1020-A(2) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Worth a look Ethics Commission
Before the Ethics Commission (2020-10-16): Request for Waiver of Late-Filing Penalty – Hon. Mark Lawrence
State Senator Mark Lawrence is running for re-election to the Maine Senate, District 35. He was required to file a 42-Day Post-Primary Election Report on August 25, 2020. The campaign treasurer filed the report one day late. The preliminary penalty is $529.50. The campaign has explained that the late filing was caused by the work and family obligations of the campaign manager and is requesting a waiver of the $529.50 preliminary penalty. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommended reducing the penalty to $350.00. The motion: “To adopt the staff recommendation to reduce the statutorily calculated penalty of $529.50 to $350” Vote: 5-0.
What to check- The Commission's decision, in the motion and the minutes
The Commission's meeting of 2020-10-16The staff memo
Rule: Late-filing penalty before the Ethics Commission
“A campaign finance report is not timely filed unless a properly signed or electronically submitted copy of the report, substantially conforming to the disclosure requirements of this subchapter, is received by the commission by 11:59 p.m. on the date it is due.”21-A MRSA §1020-A(2) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Ethics Commission
Before the Ethics Commission (2023-05-31): 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.
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 2023-05-31The 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
In the Legislature
Senate District 35 · 131st Legislature (2023–24), 132nd Legislature (2025–26) · 1,267 recorded votes, 15% not voting
Bills they sponsored: 38 (21 became law) — LD 241, LD 251, LD 597, LD 760, LD 837, LD 905, LD 1868, LD 2043, LD 596, LD 838, LD 1019, LD 1142, LD 1196, LD 1347 …
Named in lobbyists' reports
Events and spending on officials that lobbyists reported to the Ethics Commission since 2024 and whose list of officials names Mark Lawrence: 6 from 5 clients. The cost is the whole event's or item's, shared by everyone it names, not what was spent on them.
| Client (lobbyist) | What, when | Cost (all named) |
|---|
Maine State Chamber of Commerce
Linda Caprara | Event: Energy Summit · November 2025 · names 8 members | $8,765 |
| Spent on officials: energy Summit · March 2025 | $37.86 |
AARP
Noel Bonam | Event: Legislative Lunch & Learn on Older Adult Issues and Vital Voices Survey · May 2025 · names 51 members | $1,480.31 |
Unitil
James Cohen | Event: Lunch and Learn on Natural Gas · April 2025 · names 11 members | $407.28 |
Summit Utilities, Inc.
Mark Gallagher | Event: Lunch and Learn on Natrual Gas · April 2025 · names 12 members | $407.28 |
National Federation of Independent Business
David Clough | Spent on officials: NFIB member breakfast · March 2024 | $35.71 |
Matched by name and title (“Rep. Bell”, “Senator Brad Farrin”); a name that fits two members isn't counted. Check the reports on the lobbying system.