Most unethical man in Maine politics challenges Chenette

Stavros Mendros of Hollis selected at York County GOP Caucus to become new Republican Nominee

“Shame on the GOP for swapping out candidates for a lifelong Lewiston politician who just moved into our community to campaign,” says Senator Justin Chenette and member of the Senate Committee on Conduct & Ethics.

​“My opponent is the epitome of what’s wrong with politics with a long history as a shady political operative profiting off casino referendums. His unethical actions have led to multiple fines from the Maine Ethics Commission for violating campaign finance laws, a guilty plea for misusing his position as a Notary Public, and was recently ousted as the Androscoggin County GOP Chair because of missing funds. I’m running to clean up the system by strengthening ethics while my opponent is running to continue profiting off playing the game.”

State Senator Justin Chenette (left), Republican nominee Stavros Mendros (right)

Sources:

• Sun Journal: Mendros pleads guilty in referendum petition drive https://t.co/qhio7T5UWY
• Sun Journal: Correction: Stavros Mendros’ punishment http://www.sunjournal.com/correction-stavros-mendros-punishment
• Bangor Daily News: Ethics Commission calls for $32,500 fine against Lewiston casino backers for not disclosing source of campaign contributions https://bangordailynews.com/2013/10/07/politics/ethics-commission-calls-for-32500-fine-against-lewiston-casino-backers-for-not-disclosing-source-of-campaign-contributions/
• Bangor Daily News: Stavros Mendros ousted as Androscoggin GOP chair after dust-up over missing funds https://bangordailynews.com/2015/12/18/politics/stavros-mendros-ousted-as-androscoggin-gop-chair-after-dust-up-over-missing-funds/
  
• MaineBiz: Lewiston casino PACs, leaders face secrecy allegations http://www.mainebiz.biz/article/20131008/NEWS0101/131009952/lewiston-casino-pacs-leaders-face-secrecy-allegations
• Denver Post: A crooked hand: Maine’s legal weed rests on signature of troubled notary https://www.denverpost.com/2016/03/18/a-crooked-hand-maines-legal-weed-rests-on-signature-of-troubled-notary/
• Sun Journal: Mendros at center of marijuana ballot question controversy http://www.sunjournal.com/mendros-center-marijuana-ballot-question-controversy
• Sun Journal: Stavros Mendros has major role in citizen-initiated campaigns https://t.co/0qg6GsZAx9

As a member of the Senate Committee on Conduct & Ethics, Senator Chenette has worked to strengthen campaign finance rules and has fought to make Maine have the strongest ethics rules in the entire country. He has introduced legislation to:

• Ban lobbyist contributions to sitting lawmakers 
• Ban lawmakers from operating PACs (political action committees)
• End the revolving door of lawmakers becoming lobbyists and lobbyists becoming lawmakers 
• Stop the use of PACs as personal and business slush funds by lawmakers
• Prevent outside, big money interests from writing their own legislation
• Ban Clean Elections candidates from operating PACs (became law!)