BOWDOINHAM – The campaign team of Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, announced Monday that their Clean Elections spending had received a perfect score from a recent Maine Ethics Commission audit.  Berry's announcement follows a host of recent announcements regarding documented violations by other candidates in both major parties (http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=106538 for details).

"I am proud of this 100% score, and glad to know the process is being monitored," said Rep. Berry.  "Safeguarding our clean elections laws here in Maine is a top priority for anyone who cares about good government."

Berry's campaign co-chair, former Rep. David Shiah of Bowdoinham, has been nominated by Gov. John Baldacci to the Ethics Commission and will receive his confirmation hearing today before the Joint Standing Committee on Legal and Veterans' Affairs.  Shiah helped devise Maine's Clean Elections laws, whose intent is to reduce the role of money in political decision-making.

Rep. Berry's campaign was chosen at random for campaign finance audit, as part of an auditing procedure that investigates at least 20% of campaigns for statewide positions. 

"My volunteers watched every penny of our Clean Elections funding," stated Rep. Berry.  "Their work gave us a wide margin at the polls, while still letting us return over $1,780 in unspent monies back to the taxpayers."

In November 2006, Berry won in all three towns he now represents:  Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, and Richmond.  The total vote was 58% to 42%.