McGowan Turns in Clean Elections Qualifying Contributions

Candidate is the quickest to collect the 3,250 checks necessary to qualify for Clean Elections Funding

March 30, 2010

(HALLOWELL) – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Patrick McGowan has submitted the necessary number of checks to qualify for Clean Elections funding. Earlier today, McGowan submitted more than 3,250 $5 qualifying contributions from Maine voters and has also collected more than $40,000 in seed money contributions of up to $100 from Maine voters, surpassing the necessary benchmarks to receive public financing under the Clean Elections law. Having announced his campaign on January 5, the qualifying submissions make McGowan the quickest candidate to have reached the Clean Elections threshold, gathering more than 3,250 checks and $40,000 in seed money contributions in just 84 days.

“This campaign has shown unbelievable momentum in less than three months time,” McGowan said. “We continue to gain steam with an unprecedented statewide grassroots effort, bringing supporters together from Aroostook to York County. I am proud that we have qualified in such a short amount of time, and now I look forward to continuing to meet with voters from all sixteen counties to discuss issues that are important to the people of Maine – job growth, green jobs, health care, and education.”

McGowan announced his run for governor in January, holding the first of three announcements in Fort Kent. Since then, he has collected signatures and contributions from Mainers in 220 Maine cities and towns, covering all of Maine’s sixteen counties. McGowan said that surpassing the number of checks needed in record time also requires a strong volunteer effort.

“We were faced with the daunting task of gathering more than 3,250 $5 contributions in less than three months time,” McGowan said. “Without a strong group of volunteers, we never could have met this goal. The quick turnaround time is indicative of the solid levels of support that our campaign is seeing in every part of this state. My heartfelt thanks goes out to our core group of volunteers and all of the hard working Mainers who have supported our campaign.”

Born in Bangor and raised in Somerset County, Pat McGowan has worked both in the private sector as a former small businesses owner, and in the public sector as a State Representative, regional director of the Small Business Administration, and Commissioner of the Dept. of Conservation. During his tenure with the Dept. of Conservation, he has overseen the conservation of more than a million acres of Maine land, including the Katahdin Lake project, which completed Gov. Percival Baxter’s original plan for the state park.

“Our campaign will now be able to focus solely on talking with Mainers about the issues,” McGowan said. “Our country is in the midst of a challenging economic time. I have the experience in the public and private sector necessary to help put Maine people back to work while investing in the areas that will help Maine grow. I look forward to furthering this conversation with the people of Maine.”

More information can be found on McGowan’s campaign website, www.mcgowanformaine.com.