Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ethics Commission topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Colton Gross of Portland recommended to Maine ethics commission
Summary
Colton Gross told the committee he would treat the ethics commission like an impartial arbiter and pledged to help address website issues; the committee voted unanimously to recommend his appointment.
Colton Gross, a Portland-based attorney, was recommended by the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs for appointment to the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices after a public hearing and roll-call vote.
Gross framed the commissioner's role in terms of impartial application of rules, saying he "view[ed] the role of an ethics commissioner similar to that of a judge, an umpire, or a referee," and pledged to learn quickly and seek consistent application of the law.
Joe Bushey, director of boards and commissions, presented the governor's endorsement and summarized Gross's legal background, including his pro bono recognition. Representative Dave Boyer moved that the committee recommend confirmation.
Committee members asked Gross about the recent ethics-commission website rollout and the effect on filers; Gross agreed the site must function for filers and the public. He described receiving a pro bono award and said his past cases included ballot-access litigation that committee members said demonstrated competence.
The committee closed the hearing after receiving no public testimony, then took a roll-call vote and recorded unanimous approval with 12 of the committee members present voting to recommend confirmation. The committee will forward its recommendation to the president of the Senate for further action.
