More Clean Election Fund silliness: UPDATED

The Ethics Commission will be meeting today to discuss a one hundred dollar expenditure. The item on the agenda is described as follows:

 "House candidate Robert Zabierek wishes to use Maine Clean Election Act funds to hire a band to perform at a campaign event.  His son is a member of the band and would receive $100 in income from the engagement.  He has provided information to the Commission to demonstrate that the proposed expenditure satisfies the criteria enacted in 2008 for payments of public campaign funds to family members."

Mr. Zabierek is a democrat from Sherman, who is running against Republican incumbent, Henry Joy.  Susan Cover, in her piece in the Kennebec Journal, quotes Mr. Zabierek, "My son is in the hottest group in District 9," he said. "I'm running against one of the oldest members of the Legislature. I know I need to get the youth vote."

Wow!  The hottest group in District 9!

Do Mr. Z mean all of district 9 - including Bancroft, Crystal, Dyer Brook, Haynesville, Hersey, Island Falls, Linneus, Ludlow, Merrill, Mount Chase, New Limerick, Oakfield, Patten, Sherman, Smyrna, Stacyville, Weston and Plantations of Glenwood, Macwahoc, Moro and Reed, plus the unorganized territories of North Penobscot (part, including Herseytown Township) and South Aroostook (including Benedicta, Molunkus and Silver Ridge Townships)?

As for the youth vote, the median age in Sherman is 42 and in Island Falls it is 43.  Good luck with that strategy. Perhaps you could buy Lawrence Welk's greatest hits and show them at the grange hall or a few bean suppers.

By the way, If Mr. Zabierek decides to show up in person at the hearing, he will have to travel 320 miles round trip to and from the hearing. At forty two cents a mile, which is the standard reimbursement rate, he will spend $134 in travel expenses.

UPDATED: In a 4-1 vote, Mr. Zabierek has been authorized to make the $100 expenditure. The Commission came to the conclsion that the band was an allowable expense.  Mr. Marasano was the only dissenting vote.  Mr. Zabierek joined the hearing by phone, this saving the $134.