A disgraced former Waldoboro state lawmaker forced out of office three years ago for forging signatures is taking a second bite at the political apple.
Clint Collamore, running again for state office, has created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a political comeback.
GoFundMe is traditionally used by people who are legitimately hard up on their luck, such as family tragedies.
Callamore, campaigning as an “independent “ for the state house seat from District 45, says on his GoFundMe site that “the funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward community outreach, purchasing signs and print ads, hosting community events, sending out flyers, and covering other campaign-related expenses. Your support will make it possible for me to reach more people.”
“I am running because I care deeply about our community and the future of our environment,” he says. “I have always been community minded, and I am passionate about protecting our critical waterways and shorelines from pollution and contamination. I believe that by working together, we can preserve the natural beauty of our district for generations to come.”
The GoFundMe rules place strict requirements on campaigns for political office.
Candidates “must be compliant with all regulatory requirements for political fundraising set by your electoral body,” its policy states. “Electoral fundraising often has specific requirements surrounding what can be accepted and requires specific data from donors.
“Keep in mind that it’s your responsibility to ensure you’re complying with all relevant election laws and regulations.”
Collamore three years ago was sentenced to 72 hours in jail after pleading guilty to 11 counts of unsworn falsification and one count of a criminal violation of the Maine Clean Election Act.
The state dismissed 20 counts of aggravated forgery in a plea deal with Collamore. He also had to serve 100 hours of community service as part of the agreement.
Collamore resigned amid accusations that he forged signatures in order to qualify for “clean election” funding.
The attorney general’s office said at the time he previously paid more than $14,000 back to the Maine Ethics Commission.
The former Democrat was a member of the Maine House from District 45 starting December 7, 2022. He resigned February 15, 2023.
The district covers Waldoboro, Friendship, Washington, Bremen and Louds Island.
Maine Democrat Lawmaker Who Resigned After Counterfeit Scandal Raising Campaign Money on GoFundMe
By Ted Cohen
