Unclean elections

Former Auburn Rep. Jon Michael, who has repeatedly made the news for using offensive language toward minorities and women, should not cost the state’s taxpayers $1.2 million.

That’s the amount Michael will earn if the state ethics commission sides with Michael and agrees he deserves to receive Clean Elections candidate money. Clean Elections funding, already a hot-button issue in Maine politics since it involves taxpayer-supported political campaigns, should not be wasted. Granting it to Michael’s doomed campaign would be like throwing all 1.2 million dollar bills down the toilet, which, by the way, would be where his campaign would be headed even if he did run.

Originally denied the support because he was late registering his 2,500 $5 campaign support checks, Michael had his funding appeal heard by the state ethics commission on Aug. 1. He asked, and the ethics commission agreed, that his hearing be postponed to allow the appointment of an independent, fifth member to the board, expected to be appointed by the Senate when it convenes on Sept. 11. There are currently two Democrats and two Republicans on the commission. The ethics commission alone has the authority to reinstate Michael into the governor’s race.

The amount, small compared to federal campaigns, is sizable for a state like Maine where advertising on two TV stations and three or four newspapers will reach just about every voter. To us regular Mainers, it’s a lot of money. It’s money – our money – that Michael should not receive for several reasons.

First, it is wrong that a person who missed the deadline for filing his $5 checks (which candidates must turn in before they can qualify for the Clean Elections funding) should expect to get the money. Michael’s campaign was something like one minute late registering. One minute, in this world of pressing deadlines, is one minute too late and should disqualify Michael. What kind of precedent is the state starting if Michael is allowed to receive his funding? Cries of “what’s happened to the rule of law” will surely fill the State House rotunda if Michael is allowed into the race.

Second, the fact that Michael was late handing in his checks proves that something’s wrong in the Michael camp. Why would a gubernatorial candidate be late with the all-important funding checks? He can’t even get it right when it comes to signing up for free money? Something’s seriously wrong there.

And that leads us to one conclusion: On election day, why would anyone vote for someone who couldn’t properly turn in his checks? Do we really want someone like that running our state, being in charge during times of crisis?

Also, why should the state spend $1.2 million, when we all know that Michael will lose in a blow-out defeat come November? What a farce.

This is the third episode now that Michael has made himself out to be something less than admirable. He did harm to the institution of the Legislature, and himself, when he spoke crassly and abusively to two female legislators several years ago. For that, he was censured by the House. Soon after that, he looked like a racist when he said “n—” on the radio. And now he is acting like a spoiled kid who wants his way, even though he hasn’t played by the rules. In all instances, he has proved his lack of self-control and common decency.

Surely we can find better things in this state to spend our hard-earned money on. And surely we can find better leaders.