Panel uses new power to overlook funding penalties

AUGUSTA – The state ethics commission on Wednesday began using new discretionary power to waive potential financial penalties against some legislative candidates in last year’s elections.

The leniency shown by the oversight panel came amid wide-ranging discussion about the technicalities of campaign finance disclosure required under Maine’s Clean Election system.

The Clean Elections system offered a public funding option for state House and Senate candidates for the first time in 2000.

“This is complex stuff,” Rep. Charles Laverdiere, D-Wilton, told the commission during his presentation, which focused on whether candidates with leftover money from a previous campaign must report it as campaign receipts subject to a public funding match in a new election cycle.

“Absolutely,” said commission Chairman Peter Webster, agreeing with Laverdiere’s assessment of the Clean Election system’s complexity, but not with Laverdiere’s suggestion that he be cleared of even a technical reporting violation.