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Home > Meetings > June 24, 2010 Actions

Commission Actions
Meeting of June 24, 2010, 9:00 a.m.
45 Memorial Circle, Augusta, Maine

Present: Walter F. McKee, Esq., Chair; André G. Duchette, Esq.; Margaret E. Matheson, Esq.; Hon. Edward M. Youngblood

1.  Ratification of Minutes of the May 27, 2010 Meeting

Motion:  To adopt the minutes as drafted.
Made by:  Mr. Youngblood
Seconded by:  Ms. Matheson
Vote:  4-0  (motion passed)


2.   Request for Waiver of Late-Filing Penalty/Bill Beardsley
Candidates in the gubernatorial primary elections were required to file a campaign finance report by 11:59 p.m. on April 27, 2010.  Bill Beardsley filed the report roughly two hours late during the morning of April 28.  The campaign requests a waiver of the preliminary penalty.   

Motion:  That the Commission adopt the staff’s recommendation granting a complete waiver of the penalty.
Made by:  Mr. Duchette
Seconded by:  Ms. Matheson
Vote:  4-0 (motion passed)


3.  Request by Julius Erdo to Investigate the Piscataquis County Democratic Committee and Sharon Libby Jones
Julius Erdo requests that the Commission investigate misreporting by the Piscataquis County Democratic Committee (PCDC) from 2006-2009 and expenditures of Maine Clean Election Act funds by 2006 candidate Sharon Libby Jones. 

First Motion:  That the Commission conduct no further investigation of this matter.
Made by:  Mr. Youngblood
Seconded by:  Mr. Duchette
Vote:  4-0 (motion passed)

Second Motion:  That the Commission find that four reports filed by the Piscataquis Committee did not substantially conform to the disclosure requirements making them not timely.
Made by:  Mr. McKee
Seconded by:  Mr. Youngblood
Vote:  4-0 (motion passed)

Third Motion:  That the Commission adopt the staff recommendation of a 90% reduction of the $2,000 penalty which would be $50 per late report for a total of $200.
Made by:  Mr. Youngblood
Seconded by:  Mr. McKee
Vote:  2-2 (motion failed)
Yeas:  Mr. McKee, Mr. Youngblood
Nays:   Ms. Matheson, Mr. Duchette

Fourth Motion:  That the Commission assess a penalty of $25 per late report for a total of $100.
Made by:  Mr. Duchette
Seconded by:  Ms. Matheson
Vote:  4-0 (motion passed)


4.  Petition by National Organization for Marriage to Dismiss Investigation
On June 2, 1010, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) petitioned the Commission to dismiss its investigation of NOM as outside the Commission’s scope of legal authority.

Motion:  That the Commission deny NOM’s petition to dismiss the investigation.
Made by:  Mr. McKee
Seconded by:  Mr. Duchette
Vote:  4-0 (motion passed)


Other Business

Complaint from Robert Stone regarding automated phone calls advocating the defeat of Paul LePage the day before the primary election.

Motion:  That the Commission make a determination that there is sufficient information to believe that a violation may have occurred and to authorize an investigation.
Made by:  Mr. McKee
Seconded by:  Mr. Duchette
Vote:  4-0 (motion passed)