2002 Code of Election Ethics

The Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy at the University of Maine and the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan are joint sponsors of the Maine Code of Election Ethics, a project to encourage ethical campaign conduct and civic engagement in Maine. 

We believe that a robust and fair debate about issues is fundamental to a healthy democracy. Voluntary codes of campaign conduct--such as the Maine Code of Election Ethics--can help candidates draw meaningful and accurate distinctions between themselves and their opponents and, thus, enable them to elevate the discourse involved in seeking public office. 

The purpose of the code is to encourage substantive, issue-oriented campaigns that will educate the voter and improve the quality of public dialogue. It calls on the candidates to abide by the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, responsibility and compassion in their campaigns. In doing so, the candidates pledge to avoid practices such as push polling, personal attacks, stereotyping and false advertising. They also agree to publicly repudiate such practices when they are used by third parties on behalf of their campaigns. 

In a nationwide poll recently released by the Camden-based Institute for Global Ethics, eight in ten voters said "negative, attack-oriented campaigning is unethical and damaging our democracy." More importantly, two-thirds of voters said "that a candidate's willingness to sign a [campaign conduct] code would be a very important factor in their voting decision." 

Maine's candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives also have stated their intent to sign the code and to abide by its principles. Project staff at the University of Maine's Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy and the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan are working with the candidates' campaign staff to schedule public signing events and/or to obtain the candidates' signatures individually for each of the races.

In 1996 Maine became the first and only state in the nation in which all candidates for federal office voluntarily endorsed a shared Code of Election Ethics. At a forum convened by the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy, the Margaret Chase Smith Library, and the Institute for Global Ethics, the candidates agreed to abide by the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, responsibility and compassion in their campaigns for public office (view core values). Very simply, the candidates agreed to avoid tactics such as push polling, unfair personal attacks, innuendo and stereotyping, and agreed to take responsibility for all campaign tactics conducted by and/or on behalf of their campaigns. 

In 1998 and 2000, all of Maine's gubernatorial and congressional candidates adopted a similar pledge. With the 2002 election year upon us, we again have called upon Maine's gubernatorial and congressional candidates to abide by the principles of the Maine Code of Election Ethics. 

Two questions always arise in such efforts: Who will monitor compliance with the Code and how will violations be publicized? We believe these activities are best addressed by the candidates themselves, by the media in its coverage of political discourse and, most importantly, by the citizens of Maine. It is our hope that through public dialogue, voters will come to recognize the link between campaign conduct, civic engagement, and a healthy democracy and, accordingly, will choose candidates who exemplify the spirit and principles of the Maine Code of Election Ethics. 

As Jim Brunnelle put it in his July 18 Kennebec Journal editorial: "There are two ways of looking at the Maine Code of Election Ethics--as just a piece of paper on which candidates can record just another empty campaign promise or as a framework for improving the quality of civic discourse in election years. The choice should not be left to candidates. The choice should be ours."

The text of the 2002 Code of Election Ethics is printed below.  You can view the signed poster by clicking on the "View paper in .pdf format" icon below.  You must have Acrobat Reader loaded on your computer to download the poster.  If you do not have Acrobat Reader, select the "Get Acrobat Reader" button below and download the free software.

Purpose:

To encourage substantive issues-oriented electoral campaigns in Maine that will educate the Maine voter and help to improve the quality of dialogue about public policy.

Assumptions:

Electoral campaigns in Maine and throughout the nation are subject to unacceptable levels of negativism, attack advertising, and other practices which demean representative democracy.

Negative campaigns are directly related to the cynicism, alienation, and decreasing participation rates among American voters.  We all have a stake in positive electoral processes   the centerpiece of civil society.

Each candidate is responsible for fair and ethical practices by or on behalf of his/her campaign.

Five core values are fundamental to our society and are widely shared throughout Maine: honesty, respect, responsibility, fairness, and compassion.

Honesty and Fairness

I shall emphasize my views, beliefs, and experiences.  I am committed to an open and public discussion of issues and to presenting my record and my opponents’ records truthfully and with sincerity and frankness.

I shall not use or agree to let third parties use subtle deceptions, half-truths, falsifications, or such practices as push polling.  If such practices are used by third parties without my approval, I shall repudiate them immediately and publicly upon my knowledge of their occurrence.

Factual claims made by my campaign will be supported by publicly available documents provided by my campaign office.

Respect

I shall avoid demeaning references to my opponent and demeaning visual images of my opponent.

I shall respect my opponent.  I shall not use or allow to be used personal attacks, innuendo, or stereotyping.

Responsibility

I shall ensure that my campaign supporters will observe these principles of fair campaign practices.  I take full responsibility and will be fully accountable for all advertising created or used on my behalf by staff and supporters.

I shall conduct my campaign openly and publicly, discussing the issues as I see them, presenting my record and policies with sincerity and frankness, and criticizing without fear and without malice the record and policies of my opponent and his or her political party that merit such criticism.

I will not condone or allow third-party advertising that does not meet the principles contained in this document.  If such practices are used by third parties without my approval, I shall repudiate them immediately and publicly upon my knowledge of their occurrence.

Compassion

In the conduct of my candidacy, I shall show compassion at all times for my opponent.  I shall remember that the campaign process is fundamental to representative democracy and that my behavior in the campaign affects the integrity of our society.

Principles of Fair Campaign Practices

My campaign will be committed to the principles of honesty, fairness, respect for my opponent, responsibility, and compassion.

Gubernatorial Candidates:

John E. Baldacci (Democrat)

Jonathan Carter (Green Independent)

Peter Cianchette (Republican)

John M. Michael (Independent)