When researching the political contribution histories of our gubernatorial candidates the other evening on the Federal Elections Commission website, I came across some troubling records regarding gubernatorial candidate Les Otten.
During the last election cycle, Mr. Otten supported the following 1st District Congressional candidates:
· Adam Cote (D) $2000.00
· Charlie Summers (R) $4300.00
· Chellie Pingree (D) $2000.00
Additionally, Mr. Otten pitched in $1000 to Mike Michaud in February 2008.
This record of supporting both parties in the course of an election, while fairly common, is not an indication of a principled individual in my view. This kind of donation pattern is indicative of someone seeking a quid pro quo at some level. It’s called “Pay to Play” in some circles.
The $1000 donation Mr. Otten made to Joe Biden in 2001 also raises questions.
While The Republican Project will lend considerable support to one of the GOP candidates, based upon this information it will not be Les Otten. “Pay to Play” is not one of the principals we care to support.
- Ted Ropple's blog
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Thanks so much for sharing this info about Les Otten with all of us!
I have turned my back on this candidate as a result.
NO Les Otten for ME!
Ted--Thank you.
I'm busy on my checklist---
Words don't mean much--Contributions tend to tell the story.
Thanks for the information. I find it enlighting, but has anyone checked all the major candidates?
This is great info but means only a little without the others checked as well.
Steve-
Checked the FEC filings on all of the gubernatorial candidates. The others had nothing noteworthy to report IMO, but I encourage everyone to look for themselves. The link is somewhere in these comments............
Thanks!
Thank you for doing the research on this. I had never used that website. It seems that one would have difficulty pinpointing Mr. Ottens priorities, perhaps other than self-interest.
I noticed that Peter Mills happened to donate to the John Kerry campaign in 2004.
Is there a comparable site that lists monies received by these same candidates? How one chooses to "donate" their money tells one story. From whom one receives money tells another.
Ken
Ken, in my opinion, this is bigger news. Les was paying to play. Yes I have issue with that but I see what he's doing but Peter giving to Kerry in 2004???? That is not paying to play. It is straight out a major indicator of who he is...... He gains nothing if Kerry wins. He gave because he supported him, it's that simple.
We all need all the facts on who gave to whom.......
Thanks for the Mills Info.
Ken-
I just double checked Peter Mills' records and found no record of him donating to Kerry. Are you sure it was Peter Mills from Maine?
Oh, I may have misread that. At the FEC site, I selected the Advance Search option and typed in Peter Mills (or Mills, Peter). I guess I assumed that the system would have asked me "Which Peter Mills do you mean?". Now that I've looked at it again, there may be multiple Peter Mills in the system. Do you know if there is any way to distinguish one from the other. Even the multiple addresses aren't completely helpful as a candidate could have lived in different places at different times.
My apologies to anyone supporting candidate Mills. Thanks for catching this....
Ken
Thank you Ken for clarifing.
I retract my comments about Peter.
That Federal Elections Commission website is also where you can view all federal election candidate filings- that's where you can find who is contributing.
For in-state elections, the Maine Ethics Commission is where candidates must regularly file reports that show who is contributing to their campaigns, and itemization as to how they spend the money.
Tedious reading, but usually worthwhile.
Thanks for the lead. Tedious looks to be an understatement, but interesting nonetheless. I consider any day that I learn something to be a good day.
John Stewart, "He also donated to the moderate republican, the 'snowe-clone'. And when did he donate; before or after the primaries?"
Working from memory, I believe Cote and Summers received primary donations, and then Pingree and Summers for the general. It appeared to me he was "boxing the race".
I have don't recall the timing on the Biden donation.
As I heard Dean Scontras say the other night.... "its a show stopper."
It is evident to me, by the actions of Mr. Otten that, he wants to be elected regardless of who he has to pay or associate himself with. While this may be the standard for some and not in any way illegal, it gives me pause. For if you as a person, will go to such ends like Pay to Play, which is a form of bribery, what other forms of double dealing and dishonest behaviors will you be prone to?
We already have far too many politicians that do not represent their constituents in offices from high to low, and we do not need anymore. Mr. Otten is playing both sides of the table in the hopes of becoming someone of import, so be it, I personally will work to see that he receives not even crumbs from that table.
Character still means something and this behavior indicates one of weak nature.
WOW. That is really, really bad. I'd heard a lot of chatter questioning Otten's commitment to Republican principles, but actually donating to Michaud and Pingree? I'd think that's an automatic disqualification in a Republican primary.
It normally would be Garrett, however you forget that we are in Maine and the word Republican doesn't carry the same weight as it does in other parts of the country. You can look at this way though if it helps, he didn't donate his money so technically it's a grey area.
I told you we couldn't trust Smiley the Clown.
It normally would be? Have a citation on that?
Just because you don't like the guy (and I don't) doesn't mean he doesn't have the right to participate in the primary.