A needed reform

Although this generation of constitutional officers has sworn off the practice of raising and giving money for political purposes, the Legislature is being prudent by reinforcing this sensible behavior by giving it the force of law.

Maine’s secretary of state, state treasurer and attorney general are not directly elected by the public, however, they still run for office, within the Legislature’s majority party.

Until recently, like politicians everywhere, they accepted and amassed campaign contributions to lubricate the wheels of power. Given their circumstances — the need to cultivate good will among their own kind — these war chests were used to help support the campaigns of legislative candidates who, if elected, would return the favor.

This internecine aspect of the contribution cycle may have appeared harmless, but the source of the money, outside contributors, and the implications of these officers accepting donations, was troubling.

Late in 1992, Attorney General Michael Carpenter announced he was disbanding his political-action committee. Carpenter, the state’s chief legal officer, looked at the conflicts of interest and potential entanglements with his contributors, and wisely decided to sever the money connection.

After some brief soul-searching, Treasurer Sam Shapiro wiped clean his slate. Shapiro did not feel compromised personally by the fact that half his $37,000 PAC came from the big New York bond and lending houses with whom he did the state’s business. But Shapiro detected the same “perception of impropriety” in that arrangement that was disturbing for lawmakers and the public, and he responsibly pulled the plug on his PAC.

With less fanfare, Secretary of State William Diamond disbanded his PAC earlier this year.

The PACs and campaign financing practices of Maine’s constitutional officers never produced scandal or episodes of overt favoritism or impropriety. But they were unacceptable.

They provided rich soil for conflict of interest, undermined public confidence and looked terrible to everyone outside the State House.

They were potential time bombs for these politicians. This law should stop the ticking.