Note: Due to COVID-19 precautions, the Commission’s office is not open to the public. The meeting was conducted through Zoom video conferencing and streamed to YouTube for the public to access.
1. Request for Waiver of Late-Filing Penalty - Hon. Troy Jackson
Senator Troy Jackson ran for State Senate in District 1 in the 2020 general election. He was required to disclose a $1,250 expenditure in a 24-Hour Report by October 27, 2020. He entered the transaction in the Commission’s eFiling system on Oct. 27. He believed he had filed the report, but it was not filed until two days later by his deputy treasurer. The preliminary penalty for filing the report two days late is $50. Sen. Jackson requested a waiver because he attempted to file the report, and because an erroneous email notice by the Commission’s eFiling system four days earlier caused confusion when Sen. Jackson was communicating with his deputy treasurer. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommended not waiving the preliminary penalty of $50.
Motion: To not waive the preliminary penalty of $50
Made by: Mr. Hastings
Seconded by: Mr. Marble
Vote: 5-0
2. Complaint – Reporting of Compensation in Citizen Initiative Campaign
On December 28, 2020, the Commission received a complaint by the Clean Energy Matters political action committee (PAC) against the two PACs promoting a citizen initiative to oppose the New England Clean Energy Connect project (NECEC). The complaint alleged that the two PACs had failed to report any compensation or expenditure reimbursements paid to Ms. Sandra Howard, who was actively involved in organizing the petitioning for the initiative. Ms. Howard and the two PACs responded that she was not being compensated and that No CMP Corridor PAC would be reporting all expense reimbursements it makes to Ms. Howard. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommended against conducting an investigation.
Motion: There were insufficient grounds to conduct an investigation in the complaint that has been made against No CMP Corridor and Say No to NECEC
Made by: Mr. Lee
Seconded by: Mr. Schneider
Vote: 5-0
Motion: To reconsider the motion that was just passed
Made by: Mr. Lee
Seconded by: Ms. Lowry
Vote: 5-0
Motion: There were insufficient grounds to initiate an investigation on the complaint filed by Clean Energy Matters against No CMP Corridor, Mainers for Local Power, and, to the extent it can be implied, any complaint against Ms. Sandra Howard
Made by: Mr. Lee
Seconded by: Ms. Lowry
Vote: 5-0
3. Request for Waiver of Late-Filing Penalty – Mainers for Health and Parental Rights
On October 26, 2020, the Mainers for Health and Parental Rights PAC made an expenditure of $1,000 as a contribution to the Maine Prosperity Alliance PAC. It was required to report this expenditure in a 24-Hour Report by October 27, 2020 but did not do so until December 15, 2020. The PAC requested a waiver of the $980 preliminary penalty. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommended reducing the penalty to $750.
Motion: To accept the late-filed waiver request and consider it on its merits
Made by: Mr. Hastings
Seconded by: Mr. Lee
Vote: 5-0
Motion: To accept the staff recommendation to reduce the statutorily calculated penalty from $980 to $750
Made by: Mr. Lee
Seconded by: Mr. Marble
Vote: 5-0
4. Request for Waiver of Late-Filing Penalty – Scott N. Gaiason
Scott Gaiason ran for the State House of Representatives in District 56 in the 2020 general election. Mr. Gaiason was required to file the 11-Day Pre-General Report on October 23, 2020 but filed it one day late. The preliminary penalty for this late filed report is $109.54. The candidate requested a waiver of the penalty. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommended not waiving the preliminary penalty of $109.54.
Motion: To assess the statutorily calculated penalty of $109.54
Made by: Mr. Lee
Seconded by: Mr. Hastings
Vote: 5-0
Other Business: None
Executive Session: None