To the editor:
The State Ethics Commission will hold a hearing on January 29th in Augusta on an ethics charge filed by John Martin, former Speaker of the Maine House, against me — the Republican congressional candidate — on Halloween eve. The charge claims that my radio and print ad “The Three Amigos”, which linked the incumbent Mike Michaud to Governor Baldacci and Mr. Martin, was an attempt by me to defeat Mr. Martin in the recent election, in which he ran unopposed.
The satirical radio ad, which can be heard at www.fraryforcongress.com, stated that Martin, Baldacci and Michaud were “The Three Amigos of the North Maine Woods”, and that the policies advocated by the three men in tandem were directed at enriching themselves while “Maine’s economy burns,”
Martin, who was unopposed in his election, claims that the ad was directed, in part, at electing his opponent. Baldacci was not on the ballot, and was not a Clean Elections candidate in 2006. Michaud, and all federal candidates, have no Clean Election option.
This is astonishing. The legal advice I have received to date is that if this concerns something I did in my Congressional campaign, then the legal response is simple: the Commission has no jurisdiction over federal candidates. Black letter law. Simple and straight forward. I invite all my friends to attend the hearing. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
The hearing before the State Ethics Commission will be Thursday, January 29th, at 9 a.m. at the Public Utilities Hearing Room, 242 State Street in Augusta. It is open to the public.
Farmington
