From Community Pride Reporter, Vol 3, Number 1, Summer 1995

CONCERNED MAINE FAMILIES STONEWALLS ETHICS COMMISSION INVESTIGATION 

   Finances In Shambles, Lockman And Cosby Accuse Commission Of
                       "Showing Favoritism"

by Bruce Balboni

 "No one on the staff of the Ethics Commission has any
 affiliation with any, group, personally or politically," said
 Marilyn Canavan, Ethics Commission director, in response to
 Carolyn Cosby's charge that, "It's a politically driven and
 motivated investigation."

In a series of letters earlier this month Lawrence Lockman has
accused Canavan of adopting a "political position" regarding a
complaint filed against Concerned Maine Families (CMF) by Linda
Bean. Bean's complaint has triggered an investigation of
Concerned Maine Families' finances. Bean is a conservative
Republican who ran for .Congress, against Tom Andrews, four ears
ago and who supports CMF's referendum.

CMF must file quarterly reports with the Ethics Commission which
show all contributions over $50. CMF filed report showing Bean
had contributed 3,500 to pay the legal fees of CMF's Virginia
lawyer, Bruce Fein. Fein wrote Cosby's referendum question.

Bean filed a compliant with the Ethics Commission, April 21, 1995
and June 5, 1995 in which she stated that she had not made such a
contribution and had only given $250.00. Bean did give another
$250.00 as a personal gift to Carolyn Cosby but Cosby listed the
total - $500.00 - as a gift from Bean to CMF. In a flurry of
letters between Cosby, Bean, Lockman and the Ethics Commission,
Bean stated that she doesn't care what Cosby, as payee, does with
her $250.00 but that she shouldn't have listed it as a gift from
her, Bean, to CMF.

On June 12,1995, the Ethics Commission met to consider Bean's
complaints. The Commission decided to ask for "receipts of all
expenditures made by CMF from July 5, 1994 through June 12, 1995.
The receipts may be in the form of canceled checks. Contributors
records and invoices covering July 5, 1994 through June 12, 1995.
Please furnish the aforementioned records by July 3, 1995." The
Commission did not order a full audit of CMF as requested by
Canavan.

Lockman wrote to Canavan on July 5, 1995 stating that CMF could
not meet the deadline which had already passed. Lockman states
that the time given was "inadequate." He added, "However, on a
more positive note, CMF appreciates the fact that the Ethics
Commission, by its letter of June 20, 1995, has effectively
scaled back its original request for a full-scale audit, for
which there never was any basis. "Given this movement by the
Commission, away from what can only be construed as a political
position..." Lockman goes on to suggest that the Commission seek
answers from Bean, not CMF.

Lockman sent another letter to the members of the Commission,
July 10, 1995, complaining that Canavan had not responded to his
earlier letter of July 5, 1995. Lockman reports a "very serious
and threatening exchange that took place Wednesday, July 5, 1995,
in the office of the Ethics Commission. As you will see, CMF
Board members, Mrs. Carolyn Cosby and Mr. Clif Tinkham were met
with open hostility because CMF asked for certain information
stored in the office of the Ethics Commission." Lockman whines on
that the investigation is "selective and politically driven and
that the Ethics Commission may be working cooperatively with Ms.
Bean to oppose and even obstruct the CMF referendum . . ." Linda
Bean has stated publicly that she supports the referendum.