Green campaign worker acquitted

PORTLAND – A former campaign worker for a Green Party candidate has been acquitted of trying to influence a voter before a special election last year.

Ben Chipman was acquitted by a York County Superior Court jury Tuesday after two days of testimony on the charge that he intimidated a voter.

Chipman was placed on administrative leave as an aide for a Green Independent Party member of the Legislature, Rep. John Eder of Portland, as a result of the charge. Three others also were indicted.

Philip Castora of Arundel is scheduled for trial in September on a forgery charge, and Wayne Whitten of Biddeford is to be tried next month on a charge of attempting to influence a voter.

At a nonjury trial in May, Fred Dolgon of Old Orchard Beach was found guilty of two counts of trying to influence a voter, but acquitted on three other counts, Lenny Sharon, the lawyer for all four men, said Wednesday.

The indictments stemmed from work the four did for Green Party House candidate Dorothy Lafortune, which included delivering absentee ballots to elderly voters.