1. Ratification of Minutes of May 22, 2020 Meeting
Motion: Accept the Minutes.
Made by: Mr. Nass
Seconded by: Ms. Lowry
Vote: 3-0
Motion: Amend the Minutes with minor changes on pages 1 and 6.
Made by: Mr. Lee
Seconded by: Mr. Nass
Vote: 3-0
2. Request to Investigate the Gideon Leadership PAC (POSTPONED - TBD)
Dr. Demi Kouzounas submitted a request for the Maine Ethics Commission to investigate six 2018 Facebook advertisements featuring messages by the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, Sara Gideon. She asks the Commission to consider whether the ads amounted to an unreported contribution by Sara Gideon’s leadership PAC to her 2018 re-election committee. Sara Gideon responds that the ads were not intended to influence her re-election to House District #48 and but were paid for by the House Democratic Caucus Committee to support her work as Speaker.
3. Request to Investigate Vaccinate Your Family: Every Child by Two
Ms. Cara Sacks submitted a request for the Maine Ethics Commission to investigate two digital advertisements paid for by Vaccinate Your Family that did not include the name and address of the person who financed the advertisement. The Commission staff also inquired into whether Vaccinate Your Family qualified as a ballot question committee. Vaccinate Your Family responds that the ads were not intended to influence an election but were consistent with its primary purpose of providing accurate information about vaccinations.
Motion: Adopt the staff recommendation to not investigate this matter.
Made by: Mr. Nass
Seconded by: Ms. Lowry
Vote: 3-0
Other Business (None)
Executive Session: Mr. Lee made a motion to go into Executive Session pursuant to Title 1, section 405, subsection (6)(E). Ms. Lowry seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0.