Maine ethics watchdog to investigate Rep. Dillon Bates finances

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s ethics watchdog voted Friday to investigate a Westbrook legislator after finding that he may have mixed personal and campaign funds in potential violation of state law and didn’t return taxpayer funds meant for a 2014 campaign.

Rep. Dillon Bates, a second-term Democrat, was already facing a fine from the Maine Ethics Commission for not returning more than $2,600 in funds meant for his 2016 campaign by the Dec. 20 deadline.

He returned that money on Monday and provided financial records to the commission that prompted its five members to vote unanimously on Friday to direct staff to investigate Bates after a preliminary memo from Jonathan Wayne, the commission’s executive director, found “cash management and financial reporting issues” that “deserve additional consideration.”

They surround Bates’ use of the Maine Clean Election Act, which allows legislative and gubernatorial candidates to collect qualifying contributions that trigger taxpayer money to fund their campaigns.

Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2017/03/03/politics/maine-ethics-watchdog-to-investigate-rep-dillon-bates-finances/