Westbrook, MAINE -- Republican candidate for governor Garrett Mason is trying to have it both ways when it comes to Maine’s clean elections system: Mason is the only Republican candidate for governor who is running as a clean elections candidate, but, despite his own use of the system, he has consistently voted against it - including today when he opposed legislation that would have provided funding for it. Mason’s vote today comes after his campaign announced just last month that it had submitted enough signatures to unlock nearly a half million dollars in taxpayer money to help him run for the Blaine House.
Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett issued the following statement in response:
“At best it’s hypocritical and at worst it’s duplicitous for Garrett Mason to take advantage of our clean election system and then turn around and vote against it. After all, how can Mason justify using a program that he doesn’t believe should exist in the first place?
“If Mason wants to use clean elections to boost his run for the Blaine House, that’s fine - but he should at least have the decency to vote to fund it so that other candidates can take advantage of the same opportunity he is. Otherwise, he’s just trying to have it both ways, and Mainers are tired of it.”
As State Senator, Garrett Mason has consistently opposed Maine’s clean election system, despite turning around to use it to help him run for the Blaine House. Mason’s campaign has even touted his use of the system he opposes, saying that he believed it was the best choice for him.
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