Richardson warned of campaign complaints
The Maine Ethics Commission warned former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Richardson in February about problems in his fundraising operation weeks before allegations that four campaign volunteers violated Clean Election Act rules made the news.
Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, told the Portland Press Herald he called the Richardson campaign on Feb. 22 to alert it to a complaint about a volunteer fundraiser. The complainant said a campaign volunteer had offered to cover a $5 qualifying contribution to Richardson if the complainant certified that the donation had come from him or her, according to the paper. Wayne did not reveal the names of the volunteer or the complainant. Subsequent violations involving campaign volunteers caused the ethics commission to reject Richardson's application for public funding and prompted the Brunswick Democrat's withdrawal from the gubernatorial campaign on April 26. The ethics commission's findings have been turned over to the state Attorney General's Office for investigation.
Richardson told the newspaper that he and senior staff members trained everyone who was taking in donations and redoubled their efforts to get volunteers to follow the rules after the campaign was contacted in February about the alleged violation.
Meanwhile, MaineToday Media, owner of the Kennebec Journal in Augusta, the Morning Sentinel in Waterville and the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram, filed a complaint Friday in Kennebec County Superior Court against the ethics comission after it refused to release records it received in Richardson's effort to get public funding for his campaign.
Go to the article from the Portland Press Herald >>
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments