Businesses line up to fund Baldacci inaugural events

AUGUSTA – In a quadrennial bow to the state’s lobbyists and financial powers, the Maine Gubernatorial Inaugural Committee has turned to banks, paper companies, insurers, law firms and other possessors of deep pockets to help finance this week’s events associated with the swearing-in for a second term of Gov. John Baldacci.

After one response to an Associated Press request declared that donors would be identified only after fundraising was completed, a spokesman for the inaugural committee on Wednesday provided what was described as an up-to-date list that might grow.

“Fundraising is almost completed, so please find below the list of donors who contributed to the production of the Inaugural Ceremony and the Inaugural Gala. Please note that while fundraising is almost completed, this list cannot be considered complete and additional donors may be added in the coming days or week,” inaugural committee spokesman Jan Messerschmidt, who worked as a media liaison for the Baldacci re-election campaign, said in an e-mail message.

Amounts of donations were not included.

Messerschmidt had said previously that organizers plan to spend $250,000 to $300,000 on the week’s events, both being held at the Augusta Civic Center, and that some of the money will be raised through the sale of tickets to the gala costing $15 each.

Listed by the inaugural committee on Wednesday were:

AT&T, Albert LePage, Anthem, Bank of America, Bath Iron Works, Bangor Savings Bank, Bernstein Shur, Casella Waste Systems, Central Maine Power, Citigroup, Daigeo, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, FMC Corporation, FPL Energy, Fraser Papers, Garrand Marketing & Communication, Hannaford Bros. Co., Irving Woodlands, Inc., Kennebunk Savings Bank, KeyBank, Lane Construction Company, Lincolnville Telephone Company, Lincoln Paper & Tissue, L.L. Bean.

Also, Martin’s Point HealthCare, Maine Better Transportation Association, Maine Credit Union League, Maine Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company, Maine Democratic Party, Maine Motor Transport Association, Maine Soft Drink Association, Maine Tourism Association, Machinists Non-Partisan Political League, National Semiconductor, Pierce Atwood, Pike Industries, Poland Spring, Sappi, Sargent Corporation, Tidewater Telecom, Inc., TD BankNorth, N.A., Tom Howard, UnumProvident, Verizon, Verrill Dana, Wal-Mart, White Rock Distilleries and Woodward & Curran.

The inaugural gala, scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 4, will be a black-tie optional event and feature food, drink and music.

Invited guests number 1,500 and three bands were lined up to provide music at the event, said Messerschmidt.