Source: http://me.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20140822_0000397.DME.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-04-23 23:11:34
Document Index: 493174539

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1015', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 331', '§ 351', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 338', '§ 6']

AMY WOODHOUSE, ET AL., PLAINTIFFS
MAINE COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS AND ELECTION PRACTICES, ET AL., DEFENDANTS
For AMY WOODHOUSE, RICHARD TOBEY SCOTT, WILLIAM HASTINGS, J THOMAS FRANKLIN, Plaintiffs: MELISSA A. HEWEY, LEAD ATTORNEY, JAMES T. KILBRETH , MICHAEL L. BUESCHER, DRUMMOND WOODSUM, PORTLAND, ME.
For MAINE COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS AND ELECTION PRACTICES, MATTHEW DUNLAP, in his official capacity as Secretary of State for the State of Maine, WALTER F MCKEE, in his official capacity as Chair of the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, Defendants: PHYLLIS GARDINER, LEAD ATTORNEY, MAINE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, AUGUSTA, ME; THOMAS A. KNOWLTON, LEAD ATTORNEY, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AUGUSTA, ME.
Four Maine residents have requested a preliminary injunction ordering the State to permit them to double their contributions to an independent candidate for governor in the 2014 election. They want to be able to match the higher amounts that contributors have been allowed to give to the Democratic and Republican candidates. Maine has a $1,500 contribution ceiling per " election" and defines a primary as a separate election. Under Maine law, party candidates have a primary election before the general election; independent candidates do not. Until the date of the primary, contributors to party candidates can contribute for both elections (primary and general), i.e., up to $3,000. The party candidates can use any of this money for the general election. This year the Democratic and the Republican candidates had no opponents in their respective primary elections. The issue is whether this contribution scheme as applied in this election when there was no contested primary unconstitutionally discriminates against contributors to independent candidates.[1]
Maine statutes and regulations prohibit individuals from contributing more than $1,500 to a candidate for governor. 21 M.R.S.A. § 1015(1). The $1,500 cap is per " election." Id. The statute defines the term " election" to mean " primary and general elections and referenda, whether regular or special." 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1 (2). In connection with the governor's race, state regulations define it as " any primary, general or special election for Governor." 94-270 C.M.R. ch. 1, § 1 (9). Party candidates must win a primary election in order to appear on the general election ballot. 21-A M.R.S.A. § 331. An independent candidate does not confront a primary. Id. § 351. Accordingly, beginning at the time the candidate declares candidacy, supporters of a party candidate can contribute twice the $1,500 limit--once for attribution to the primary and once for attribution to the general election--for a total of $3,000.[2] Before the primary election
date, the candidate must segregate amounts attributed to the general election and not use them until after the primary. 94-270 C.M.R. ch. 1, § 6(7)(A). Amounts attributed to the primary, however, can be used in either election.[3] In contrast, contributors to an independent candidate can never give more than $1,500 to their candidate at any time.
This year, party nominees were required to gather 2,000 registered voter signatures by March 17, 2014, to get their names on the primary ballots, 21-A M.R.S.A. § § 6, 334, 335(5)(A). Only Michael Michaud did so as a Democrat; only Paul LePage did so as a Republican. Even after the signature-filing deadline of March 17, the Democratic and Republican nominees could have faced opposition in their respective primaries from a write-in candidate who submitted a declaration of candidacy by 5 p.m. on April 28, 2014. Id. § § 338, 722-A. No one did so.[4] Accordingly, after April 28, candidates Michaud and LePage could face no primary opposition.[5] Nevertheless, supporters of those party candidates could continue to contribute $3,000 to their respective candidates (as they could before the April 28 deadline), while supporters of the independent candidates continued to be limited to $1,500 (as they were from the outset).[6] Only after the June 10 primary were supporters of the party candidates limited to $1,500 like supporters of independent candidates.[7]
Independent candidates were required to gather 4,000 signatures by June 2, 2014, in order to get their names on the general election ballot. 21-A M.R.S.A. § § 6, 354(5)(B), (8-A). Eliot Cutler and Lee Schultheis both did so.
The four plaintiffs have each contributed the $1,500 maximum to independent candidate Cutler and they want to contribute more. Dec. of Amy Woodhouse ¶ ¶ 4, 5 (ECF No. 3-1); Dec. of Richard Toby Scott ¶ ¶ 4, 6 (ECF No. 3-2); Dec. of William Hastings ¶ ¶ 4, 6 (ECF No. 3-3); Dec. of J. Thomas Franklin ¶ ¶ 4, 5 (ECF No. 3-4). The Commission says that on account of Maine statutes, they may not. Oct. 18, 2013 Letter from the Maine Commission on Gov. Ethics and Election Practices to attorney representing Cutler (ECF No. 3-11). The plaintiffs say that prohibition unconstitutionally infringes their First Amendment rights of speech and association
and denies them equal protection of the laws.
None of the candidates is a party in ...