LaMarche to appeal denial of extra funds

AUGUSTA – Green Independent gubernatorial candidate Pat LaMarche will appeal a decision by the state Ethics Commission to deny her additional public funding to offset spending by outside groups for the Democratic and Republican candidates, she announced Thursday.

The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices voted 4-1 last Friday against giving extra money in response to the ads, which were paid for by the Republican Governors Association and the Maine Democratic Party. The ads appear to promote Gov. John Baldacci and Republican candidate Chandler Woodcock.

The decision centered on state rules that say outside advertising more than 21 days before an election will trigger matching funds for publicly funded candidates if the

ads “expressly advocate

the election or defeat of

a clearly identified candidate.”

LaMarche on Thursday said she will file an appeal in Superior Court.

In denying the additional funds, the commission overruled its own staff recommendation, LaMarche said.

LaMarche, Woodcock

and independent Barbara Merrill are all using the state’s Clean Election Fund for their races. They each have received $400,000 so far from that fund.

Baldacci and independent Phillip Morris NaPier are running privately funded campaigns.