ME-HD45: Gun raffle is fundraiser in Midcoast House race
Residents in Maine House District 45 will decide who should represent them in Augusta in a special election scheduled for Tuesday, June 13.
Nominated by the political parties to be on the June 13 ballot are former state Rep. Wendy Pieh of Bremen, a Democrat; and former state Rep. Abden Simmons of Waldoboro, a Republican.
Simmons (R) is financing his campaign from private contributions, many from outside the district. One fundraising effort is a raffle for a gun.
The Courier-Gazette emailed a set of questions to both candidates on May 12 and asked for responses by May 20. Simmons has not responded to multiple emails nor to phone messages asking for responses to the questions.
Absentee balloting has already started in the race to represent the district that includes Friendship, Washington, Waldoboro, Bremen and Louds Island Township.
Donors include former state Rep. Paula Sutton of Beverly Hills, Florida, who gave $475; Heather Sprague of Cushing, who was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for a House seat who gave $50; Rockland City Councilor Nicole Kalloch of Rockland who donated $475; and former state Senate candidate William Rocknak of Camden who donated $475.
The Knox County Republicans are also auctioning off a Colt .45 handgun to raise money for Simmons’ campaign. Kalloch is chair of the Knox County Republican Committee.
An email was sent to Kalloch asking how it was decided to raffle a gun. The email was sent to her Council email.
“This email is not for political purposes. You must be aware of that. Please direct your questions to the appropriate committee,” Kalloch responded.
She did not respond to a follow up question of what committee.
https://knox.villagesoup.com/news/gun-raffle-is-fundraiser-in-midcoast-house-race/article_27cdabf2-fa3c-11ed-8f72-df2d849a7aed.html
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