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Home > Meetings >August 18, 2011 Actions

Commission Actions
Meeting of August 18, 2011, 9:00 a.m.
45 Memorial Circle, Augusta, Maine

Present: Margaret E. Matheson, Esq., Acting Chair; André G. Duchette, Esq.; Michael T. Healy, Esq.; Hon. Edward M. Youngblood

1.  Ratification of Minutes of the July 28, 2011 Meeting

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


2. Commission's Report on Maine Clean Election Act Program

The Commission is required by Resolve Chapter 103 to study the Maine Clean Election Act program in light of a recent court decision eliminating matching funds from the program.  The Commission staff presented some proposals for modifying the program for consideration by the Commissioners.

No action required at this time. 
The Commission directed the staff to prepare a draft report outlining two options for modifying the Maine Clean Election Act for consideration by the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. The draft report will be presented at the Commission's September meeting .


3. Audit of 2010 Campaign of Howard McFadden

State Representative Howard McFadden was a Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA) candidate for the Maine House of Representatives in 2010.  His campaign was selected for an audit.  The audit disclosed no problems with the campaign’s financial reporting and record-keeping, but the campaign bank account contained some personal funds for most of the campaign year.  No personal funds were used for campaign purposes.  Commingling of MCEA funds and personal funds is prohibited. 

Motion:  To adopt the staff recommendation and assess a penalty of $100.
Made by:  Mr. Duchette
Seconded by: Mr. Healy
Vote:  4-0 (motion passed)


4. Audit of 2010 Campaign of Patrick McGowan

Patrick McGowan was a Maine Clean Election Act candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2010.  During the audit, the campaign disclosed that it accidentally overstated the seed money contributions itemized in the campaign’s April 1, 2010 seed money report, which resulted in the campaign spending MCEA funds for some staff services received prior to certification.  Also, the campaign omitted from its October 2011 report nine expenditures of MCEA funds totaling $248. 

Motion:  To adopt the staff recommendation and assess penalties totaling $300.
Made by:  Mr. Duchette
Seconded by: Mr. Youngblood
Vote:  4-0 (motion passed)


5. Audits of Maine Clean Election Act Campaigns

In addition to agenda items #3 and #4, the Commission’s auditor has completed seven audits of 2010 Maine Clean Election Act candidates.  No exceptions (violations) were found.

No Action Required