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Ronald Russell D

On the November ballot: State House District 17 (Verona Island)

June 9 primary for State House District 17 (Democratic): won, 1,179 votes (100%)

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 Outside spending

Outside groups spent $16,473 for or against them, more than their campaign's $16,112

Independent expenditures: $4,031 supporting and $12,442 opposing. The largest: Lead Maine Action $10,442 (against); REBUILD MAINE $2,279 (for); Renew the American Dream $2,000 (against); Kennebunkport Republican Committee $1,000 (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 July 28, 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.

Businesses they own or hold a stake in

15 Central Street LLC (Food Services and Hospitality) · Bucksport, ME

Other income

Charles Schwab IRA account · Retirement Plan or Pension and Annuity
Charles Schwab joint brokerage account · Investment and Interest Income
Social Security · Social Security Benefits

Positions

Treasurer, Northeast Historic Film · Bucksport, ME
Financial Committee member, Wilson Museum · Castine, ME

Family members

A family member: Social Security · Social Security Benefits
A family member: Charles Schwab joint brokerage account · Investment and Interest Income

Campaign money: Representative · Traditionally financed

$16,313raised to date (the Commission's list, October 17, 2026); $11,021 spent

$16,113itemized in 2026, 37 contributions

$8,000from the candidate (incl. loans)

$5,291cash on hand on September 15, 2026 (42 Day Pre General Report)

Where their contributions come from

94%

IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsTribal nationsPolitical partiesOther candidates and officeholders

Compare with all 2026 candidates →

How it was spent: $11,021

Mail house$7,967

Palm cards, signs, stickers$2,998

Other$31

Website$25

Largest payees: Frame Media Strategies $7,967 Mail house · Downeast Graphics and Printing $2,998 Palm cards, signs, stickers · Sign Up Genius $31 Other · SquareSpace $25 Website

Payments in 2026, by the Ethics Commission's expenditure codes.

Top contributors	Type	Total
Ronald B Russell retired · Bucksport	The candidate	$8,000
Fecteau for Leadership Biddeford	PAC	$500
Penny Dicus retired · Jasper	Person	$500
Carrie R Marcus homemaker · Weston	Person	$500
Doris M Russell retired · Castine	Person	$500
John Russell Business Owner · The Merchant Company · Portland	Person	$500
Kelly R Sawyer retired · Orland	Person	$500
Michael L Russell retired · Penobscot	Person	$500
Robin Russell retired · Scarborough	Person	$500
Margaret Russell office and administrative occupations · Maine Strong Balance Centers · Scarborough	Person	$500
Alvion Kimball retired · Orland	Person	$257.50
William J Brennan retired · Castine	Person	$250
Karen Balas-Cote retired · Orland	Person	$250
Joyce Schelling retired · Orland	Person	$250
George Schelling retired · orland	Person	$250

Russell, Ronald 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.

Outside spending for and against them

$4,031spent supporting them

$12,442spent opposing them

Spender		Amount
Lead Maine Action 3 expenditures · the race	against	$10,442
REBUILD MAINE 2 expenditures · the race	for	$2,279
Renew the American Dream 1 expenditure · the race	against	$2,000
Kennebunkport Republican Committee 1 expenditure · the race	for	$1,000
MAINE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE 2 expenditures · the race	for	$752

Independent expenditures reported to the Ethics Commission in 2026. The candidate doesn't control them.

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2026 candidates.

Donor	To them	Candidates funded
Fecteau for Leadership Candidate committee · Biddeford	$500	4
John Russell Other, The Merchant Company · Portland	$500	2
Karen Balas-Cote not currently employed, Not Employed · Orland	$250	3
George Schelling not currently employed, Not Currently Employed · Orland	$250	2
Jonathan Albrecht retired, Unknown · Penobscot	$100	2
David Jolly not currently employed · Penobscot	$100	2
Joanna Rysnik not currently employed, N/A · Penobscot	$50	2