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January 26, 2012

Ethics panel to probe Lewiston casino supporters

The state’s ethics panel will investigate two political action committees involved in a failed effort to bring a casino to Lewiston following a complaint by casino opponent Dennis Bailey that the groups violated campaign finance laws.

The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices did not find evidence that the groups broke finance laws, but did raise questions on whether the groups acted in an ethical manner, according to the Sun Journal. The commission’s staff will do further investigation to determine if Green Jobs for ME and the People of Lewiston Auburn Committee acted unethically.

Bailey of CasinosNO! filed the complaint in December, alleging the groups did not accurately disclose all of their donations and expenditures in their campaign finance reports. His questions centered around a company called Dome Messaging that contributed to both campaigns, conducting polls and purchasing advertising, but the people behind the company were not disclosed. The commission has also requested information from another company, GTSource of Georgia, about its campaign contributions, but the company has not been responsive, according to the paper.

Statewide voters in November rejected a casino in Bates Mill No. 5 proposed by a group of investors known as Great Falls Recreation and Redevelopment.

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