The Maine ethics commission voted Wednesday to accept a $100,000 payment from the backers of a failed 2017 ballot question campaign that asked voters to approve a York County casino. The 4-0 vote could be the final chapter in a three-year saga that involved a murky money trail stretching from Maine to the Northern Mariana […]
election 2017
Posted inMaine
Ethics staff wants to lower fine against casino campaign because it’s unlikely to be paid
AUGUSTA – The backers of a failed referendum drive to bring a casino to York County in 2017 could be getting a major reduction in the fine they owe for violating Maine’s campaign finance laws. The Maine Ethics Commission voted just before the election last November to levy a record-setting $500,000 fine against several organizations […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
In Maine, is GOP linked to flurry of anonymous attacks?
Ben Chin, a 32-year-old Democrat, ran away with the preliminary vote in November for mayor of Lewiston, the second-largest city in Maine. But he could not avoid a runoff with City Councilor Shane Bouchard, a Republican backed by Gov. Paul LePage. Shortly after the November election, an anonymous conservative website called Maine Examiner began hammering […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Lewiston voters turn out in droves despite storm
LEWISTON — Voters were so eager to cast ballots in the mayoral runoff election Tuesday, they began lining up at 6:30 a.m. — 30 minutes before the polls opened. “I’ve never seen that at any election — that’s huge,” City Clerk Kathy Montejo said. “There was a little bit of a party going on in […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Lewiston mayoral runoff election to take place despite storm
LEWISTON — City officials announced early Monday afternoon that the runoff election for mayor will take place Tuesday, as scheduled, regardless of the pending storm. All voting citywide will take place at Longley Elementary School, 145 Birch St. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The school building will be open Tuesday, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Lewiston mayoral runoff heating up in final days
LEWISTON — As the mayoral runoff election nears, last-minute efforts by the state’s major political parties to influence the local race are increasing — as are the accusations and drama on social media. Leading up to the conclusion of the race on Dec. 12, the campaigns of Shane Bouchard and Ben Chin are both benefiting […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Paul LePage says Lewiston and Auburn should have voted to merge
LEWISTON — Voters in the Twin Cities made a mistake last month when they rejected a proposed merger of Lewiston and Auburn, Gov. Paul LePage said Thursday. The governor called it “a very parochial decision” that will leave the two cities weaker than they could be together. He said that Lewiston and Auburn could be […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage dismisses 'fake news' that Trump wants him in U.S. Senate
LEWISTON — As he wound up a two-hour campaign swing through downtown, Gov. Paul LePage said what he’d like to do when he leaves the state’s top job is to teach economics and politics at a university. “I’m so glad I’m going to be done” in a year, the two-term, lame-duck governor said. After ruling […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Ben Chin responds to leaked emails
LEWISTON — Lewiston mayoral candidate Ben Chin responded Monday to internal campaign emails that were leaked to a conservative website in which Chin describes, in one communication, encountering a “bunch of racists” while campaigning this year. One of the emails, written in June, was published by the website The Maine Examiner over the weekend and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Winslow councilor sues town over single ballot after recount ends in tie
WINSLOW — The intent of a local voter who sloppily marked up an election ballot could decide the outcome of a still-unresolved race for Town Council. A sitting town councilor has called into question a recent election recount that resulted in a tie with a challenger, and he is filing a lawsuit against the town […]