Staff with the state’s ethics commission is recommending an investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office into the alleged misuse of public campaign finance funds by State Rep. David R. Burns, R-Alfred.
According to meeting materials released Friday, a random audit of candidates using the Maine Clean Election Fund showed that Burns spent approximately $2,500 on personal items and falsified his campaign finance disclosure.
Burns was authorized to spend $9,066 in clean election funds for the 2010 election cycle. According to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices materials, the audit showed Burns spent at least $2,500 of public funds for personal purposes. Expenditures totaling at least $1,295 were falsely reported in his campaign finance reports.
According to the ethics document, Burns submitted cash register receipts that he admitted were fabricated.
When the commission meets Nov. 30, it will decide whether to defer the return of funds or the assessment of civil penalties until after an investigation by the Attorney General or possible criminal prosecution.
Burns did not immediately respond to a request by the Sun Journal for comment.
The audit on Burns was also performed on Sen. Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, and former Democratic state Rep. Sean Flaherty of Scarborough.
The commission is recommending a $100 fine for Thibodeau, also a clean election candidate, for not adequately disclosing travel records for which he was reimbursed.
Flaherty may also receive a $100 fine for commingling more than $200 of his personal funds with clean election money.
smistler@sunjournal.com
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- Staff with the state Ethics Commission is recommending an investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office into the alleged misuse of public campaign finance funds by State Rep. David R. Burns, R-Alfred.
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