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LD 1750: A study in how special interests get their way in the Maine legislature

LD 1750: A study in how special interests get their way in the Maine legislature

by Naomi Schalit | May 26, 2018 | Ethics

Photo by: AlexiusHoratius [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons LD 1750: A study in how special interests get their way in the Maine legislature The industrial wind lobby was not happy. Its plans to keep building hundreds of wind turbines in rural Maine were...
Pine Tree Watch releases second edition of online tool to research potential conflicts of interest

Pine Tree Watch releases second edition of online tool to research potential conflicts of interest

by Pine Tree Watch | November 6, 2017 | Ethics, Top Story

Pine Tree Watch releases second edition of online tool to research potential conflicts of interest AUGUSTA — They are bus drivers, fishermen, lawyers and cooks. The members of the 128th Maine Legislature — a “citizen legislature” in the truest definition of the term...
Ethics Commission fines leading Republican senator $9K for campaign finance violations

Ethics Commission fines leading Republican senator $9K for campaign finance violations

by Joshua F. Moore | August 30, 2017 | Elections, Ethics

Ethics Commission fines leading Republican senator $9K for campaign finance violations The Maine Ethics Commission imposed a $9,000 fine Wednesday on the second-highest ranking Republican in the Maine Senate, calling his political committees’ late filings, missing...

Portland primary election challenges lead to proposed changes in campaign law

by Naomi Schalit | July 20, 2016 | Elections, Ethics, Money

AUGUSTA — The Maine Ethics Commission fined losing Senate candidate Rep. Diane Russell $500 on Wednesday for failing to disclose her contribution to her Senate campaign of a valuable email list, closing the books on a series of ethics complaints generated by the...
Complaint alleges Rep. Russell’s PAC was “money mill” for her

Complaint alleges Rep. Russell’s PAC was “money mill” for her

by Naomi Schalit | June 6, 2016 | Elections, Ethics, Money

AUGUSTA — A Portland resident has requested an Ethics Commission investigation into whether a PAC controlled by Democratic state legislator and Senate candidate Diane Russell made “fraudulent” filings, among other allegations. Michael Hiltz asked the commission to...

Portland legislator paid self from leadership PAC founded to support other candidates

by Naomi Schalit | March 9, 2016 | Ethics, Money

AUGUSTA — A PAC established and controlled by prominent Portland state Rep. Diane Russell, whose mission is to “help support Democrats in winning seats in the Maine House,” instead paid her almost 20 percent of its total expenditures for “online organizing” and spent...
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Liz Clancy

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Liz is a freelance audience development professional who specializes in helping not-for-profit and smaller organizations grow, maintain and engage their audience database. Liz brings over 15 years’ experience in B2B & B2C audience marketing, including time as a Circulation manager at the Portland Press Herald, and as Director of Audience Marketing for HIMSS Media. When not nurturing audiences, Liz enjoys all that Maine has to offer, including: kayaking, hiking, skiing and (most important) testing the flourishing food and microbrew scene.

Yoon Byun

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Yoon is an award-winning photographer who has dedicated his career to telling the stories of people from all walks of life. He was part of The Boston Globe team awarded the 2014 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news for coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings. His work has also been recognized by POYi, BPPA, Edward R. Murrow, National Headliners, among others. During the two years that he was photo editor and director of visuals at the Portland Press Herald, Yoon’s staff won numerous awards, including being recognized repeatedly by the Maine Press Association and winning three regional Emmy Awards. He is currently a visiting lecturer in documentary photography and short film at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at MECA. He has lived in five countries and more than a dozen cities, but he tells people he’s from New York. He lives with his wife and sons in a 1920s bungalow near Portland.

Stephanie Bouchard

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Stephanie Bouchard is an award-winning writer and editor based in Bath. She writes about healthcare, business, pets and Maine life and people. She has been published locally and nationally in publications such as the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, the Working Waterfront, Island Journal, Forbes.com, WSJ.com and Cat Fancy, Feline Wellness, and MASSAGE magazines. Learn more about her at stephaniebouchard.net. Contact her at stephanie@stephaniebouchard.net.

Julie Boardman

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With more than 20 years of media marketing experience, Julie prides herself in being a creative strategist, a strong communicator, a dedicated hard-worker and an overall fun person. She helps bring brands to life through collaboration and innovation. Julie has been the Marketing Director at HIMSS Media and United Publications, both here in Maine. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Business from Ithaca College, and loves dogs, sailing and living in Maine. She lives in Portland with her daughter.