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QUESTION 1

Campaign reports detail Question 1 backing, spending

By Ethan Wilensky-Lanford ewlanford@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- The largest contributor to the campaigns around Question 1, the people's veto on tax reform, is the Maine Association of Realtors, which has contributed $222,589 to encourage voters to reject the legislation.

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The latest financial reports for political action and ballot question committees engaged in the June 8 ballot questions were filed last week. Disclosures cover the period between April 1 to May 25.

The leading contributor to preserve the reform package is Donald Sussman, partner of U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine. Sussman, a wealthy financier, donated $50,000 on May 20, after giving an initial $100,000 on April 9.

Sussman -- who owns a home on North Haven, where Pingree resides -- listed his address as St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Another significant donor toward preserving tax reform is Daniel Tishman, chairman and chief executive of Tishman Construction, which built the World Trade Center and holds contracts to rebuild several buildings on Ground Zero.

He and his wife each gave $50,000 to the No Higher Taxes for Maine Political Action Committee, which advocates a "no" vote on Question 1.

"Dan and Sheryl Tishman have deep roots in Maine and have been involved both charitably and politically in the state of Maine for decades," Tishman spokesman John Gallagher said.

The couple's address, according to the PAC report, is 5th Avenue in New York City, but they also own a farm where they raise llamas in Jefferson.

Thomas Chappel, chief executive of Tom's of Maine, gave $5,000 toward the campaign to protect tax reform. Tom Walsh, hotelier and principal of Ocean Properties, Ltd., gave $10,000. Iberdrola, the Spanish company that recently acquired Energy East, the parent of Central Maine Power, gave $15,000. Another utility, Bangor Hydro, gave $7,500.

"We support the original law that was passed in 2009, and we don't feel that this is the time to raise income taxes for Mainers," said Susan Faloon, spokeswoman for Bangor Hydro.

Overall, No Higher Taxes for Maine reported raising $337,180 since April 1, spending $303,875, and keeping $39,278 on hand.

A political action committee called Vote Yes to Reject New Taxes is leading the charge to support repeal.

The Maine Automobile Dealers Association, Maine Restaurant Association and Maine Tourism Association each gave the Vote Yes PAC $5,000 in early April.

The Maine branch of the National Federation of Independent Businesses donated $2,000. About 20 seperate garages and auto dealers supported the veto with donations below $200.

In total, Vote Yes to Reject New Taxes reported raising $24,480 since April 1, has spent $8,298 and has $18,382 on hand. The Realtors' contribution was listed under its ballot question committee, Save the Mortgage Interest Deduction.

A third committee originally created to lead the signature drive to put tax reform on the ballot also reported activity.

Still Fed Up With Taxes held a golf tournament in Vassalboro on May 15 at a cost of $2,371, and raised $10,650 between April 1 and May 25. It spent $11,390 in this period, and has $554 remaining on hand.

The gubernatorial campaigns of Republicans Paul LePage and Les Otten each gave $500 to the PAC, as did a PAC registered to Senate Minority Leader Kevin Raye, R-Perry.

Still Fed Up with Taxes also received support from the Maine Republican Party, which sent fundraising letters -- one to hairdressers, the other to plumbers and oil repair men -- on the PAC's behalf.

Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster said the state party had not recently been involved with the campaign, aside from what he called "foundation building," or helping to explain to people the difference between the two main parties.

"There was a concern that, because the party had been so involved with getting this thing on the ballot, it would become a partisan issue," Webster said. "We just basically walked away from the campaign."

The fundraising letters, said Webster, yielded less than $1,000 -- all of which went to Still Fed Up With Taxes.

He was still involved in fundraising for the repeal of the tax package, he said, but as an individual -- npt as leader of the state GOP.

Webster added he would like to run a "robocall" urging people to reject tax reform, and if he could not raise enough money through the PAC to do so, he might use party funds.

"If we can't raise money, then I'd have to make a decision," he said.

The Democratic Party did not indicate donations to the campaign for a "no" vote, though Democratic legislators did make contributions.

Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven; Rep. Wendy Pieh, D-Bremen; and Rep. Elspeth Fleming, D-Bar Harbor; gave $100, $250 and $100, respectively, to the No Higher Taxes for Maine PAC.

Ethan Wilensky-Lanford -- 620-7016

ewlanford@mainetoday.com