AUGUSTA – Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, testified in support of Sarah LeClaire of Woodland during a nomination hearing before the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on Friday. LeClaire has been nominated by the governor to serve on the Maine Ethics Commission.

“Over the many years I have known Sarah she has always been a fair-minded and reasonable voice with a deep understanding of the law,” said President Jackson. “The ethics commission is a watch guard for fair elections here in Maine, and I have no doubt that she will be a strong addition to the commission. I’m thrilled that the committee saw fit to give her a strong, unanimous recommendation to serve.”

LeClaire is an attorney with a law practice located in Presque Isle. She has a long history of community service, including service on the Union #122 school board in Woodland, the board of the Battered Women’s Project, American Civil Liberties Union of Maine and the Presque Isle homeless shelter.

The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices — often known simply as the Maine Ethics Commission —is an independent state agency that administers Maine’s campaign finance laws, the Maine Clean Election Act, and the lobbyist disclosure law. The commission also issues advisory opinions and conducts investigations regarding legislative ethics.

The commission is bipartisan and consists of five members jointly appointed by the Governor and Legislative Leaders for three-year terms. No more than two members may be enrolled in the same political party.

The committee voted to unanimously approve LeClaire’s nomination. Her nomination will now go to the Maine Senate for a vote.

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