The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • Podcasts
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Portland Man Fatally Stabs Himself after Police Respond to Burglary Attempt
  • Nearly Half Of Homeschool Parents Cite ‘Liberal’ Public Schools As Motivating Factor: POLL
  • Offshore Wind Making Everything More Expensive, From Lobsters To Electricity: FRANK LASSEE
  • House Republicans Launch Probe into Biden Energy Secretary’s Disasterous Taxpayer-Funded EV Road Trip
  • IRS Grants Tax Extension to Feb. 15 for Mainers Affected by Hurricane Lee
  • Portland City Council to Consider $134,000 150-Bed Expansion to Homeless Shelter by Emergency Declaration
  • Dangerous Company: Sam Patten’s Memoir Is a Riveting Insight Into 25 Years of American Foreign Policy
  • New Maine CDC Director Recommends Masks and Latest COVID Booster for Everybody Ages 6 months and Older
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Wednesday, September 27
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • Podcasts
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Ethics Committee Vote Says Treasurer Poliquin Filing is in Compliance
News

Ethics Committee Vote Says Treasurer Poliquin Filing is in Compliance

Steve RobinsonBy Steve RobinsonMarch 1, 2012No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

by Terrilyn Simpson

In response to a complaint State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin had failed to report several financial details on a state disclosure form, the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices voted four to one that Poliquin’s 2010 income disclosure
had been substantially in compliance but incomplete, and that his amended filing brought him into compliance.

State Democratic Party Executive Director Mary Erin Casale filed the complaint on January 18 claiming that Poliquin had failed to comply with statutory reporting requirements. It was Casale’s contention that Poliquin had not fully disclosed personal business dealings and holdings, and associated income, on the statement of sources of income, or financial disclosure forms, he was required to complete for the state.

The financial disclosure is based on a regulation regarding financial reporting requirements of executive employees employed by the State Executive Branch, either appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature, or who serve in a major policy-influencing position. The requirement applies to the Governor, the constitutional offices, the State Auditor, and certain managers of executive branch and independent agencies of state government.

The commission acknowledged some confusion in the financial disclosure requirements, including whether the term income “should be interpreted to mean gross income (before any expenses or costs are deducted) or net income (after expenses are deducted.” In a further acknowledgement in the summary, Executive Director Jonathan Wayne wrote, “In certain circumstances, this interpretation could determine whether an official was required to disclose a business or investment (such as the Popham Beach Club [owned by Poliquin] which received gross income over $1,000 but no net income.”

Wayne wrote, “We are considering whether to suggest a clarification of this issue when the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs considers personal financial disclosure later this month…”

Poliquin had failed to disclose income from a property he owns called the  Popham Beach Club, explaining in a letter to the commission “the income of $9,750 was exceeded by expenses.”

He had overlooked a non-cash income (of the nature of a tax depreciation) from Marshall Mall Associates. In his explanation to the commission, he explained it as “a real estate investment dating back some 25 years,” which he explained, he “did not recall at the time.”

And he had neglected to include income his college age son had received from a 10-week summer internship.

According to the commission report, “The staff believes that Mr. Poliquin was not required to report Dirigo Holdings, LLC as a source of income for 2010. The company is a separate legal entity from the Treasurer, which he states did not provide him with any income in 2010.” The report did note, however, that after conferring with the Commission’s Counsel, they were “inclined to advise” that Poliquin had been required to disclose his position in the limited liability company.

Commissioner Michael Healey noted that Poliquin had been otherwise open regarding Dirigo Holdings, which was publicly listed.

Attorney Katherine Knox, representing the Democratic Party, argued, “In this disclosure, the obligation is on the person filing the report to seek guidance.”

Representing Poliquin, Attorney David Barry noted that “none of (Poliquin’s) sources of income provided any conflict of interest for him.” Barry said Poliquin had planned on  attending the hearing but had unexpectedly been called out of state for a family medical situation.

An initial vote, proposed by Chairperson Walter McKee, finding Poliquin in non-compliance with his initial filing but in compliance with the amended filing, failed 3 to 2. McKee argued the issue of Dirigo holdings as “pretty significant.”

“Let me tell you my problem with the language,” said Healey,  “there are a lot of accusations…we owe it to the process to specify what he didn’t do…the LLC holding…was a matter of public record.” Healey said there had been no attempt to hide the business.

The final motion was proposed by Commissioner Andre Duchette and seconded by Jane Amero, with yea votes from Margaret Matheson and Healey. McKee cast the dissenting vote.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Bruce Poliquin Democrats
Previous ArticleSenator Sussman
Next Article Adding math to a great column by Matt Gagnon
Steve Robinson
  • Twitter

Steve Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire. ‪He can be reached by email at Robinson@TheMaineWire.com.

Related Posts

Portland Man Fatally Stabs Himself after Police Respond to Burglary Attempt

September 26, 2023

Nearly Half Of Homeschool Parents Cite ‘Liberal’ Public Schools As Motivating Factor: POLL

September 26, 2023

Offshore Wind Making Everything More Expensive, From Lobsters To Electricity: FRANK LASSEE

September 26, 2023

Comments are closed.

Recent News

Portland Man Fatally Stabs Himself after Police Respond to Burglary Attempt

September 26, 2023

Nearly Half Of Homeschool Parents Cite ‘Liberal’ Public Schools As Motivating Factor: POLL

September 26, 2023

House Republicans Launch Probe into Biden Energy Secretary’s Disasterous Taxpayer-Funded EV Road Trip

September 26, 2023

IRS Grants Tax Extension to Feb. 15 for Mainers Affected by Hurricane Lee

September 26, 2023

Portland City Council to Consider $134,000 150-Bed Expansion to Homeless Shelter by Emergency Declaration

September 26, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.