LEWISTON – While Democrats were defending Sen. Peggy Rotundo, former state Sen. Georgette Berube – who’s not running for anything – was fuming over another ad released over the weekend.

Berube, 76, a Democrat and considered by many to be Lewiston’s political matriarch, was angry because her photo and name were used in an ad campaign by Republican Senate candidate Stavros Mendros without her knowledge.

Berube found out about it when she got her mail Saturday. Her photo and complimentary words about her that appear on the front of the Mendros mailer implies she’s endorsing him, she said, which is not the case.

“I’m stunned, offended and angry,” Berube said. “Whoever perpetrated this, it’s negative and unfair. No one ever contacted me or told me We’d like to use your name or photo.'” She thought about buying advertising to refute the ad, but said there wasn’t time before today’s election.

In the race for state Senate District 17, incumbent Sen. Peggy Rotundo and Paul Madore face off today for the Democratic nomination. The winner will face Republican Mendros in November. Mendros is unopposed in the primary.

“It’s fine to say I’m a good guy,” Berube said, “but this creates false impressions.”

The back of the card rates Mendros, Berube, Madore and Rotundo on 10 issues, including their supposed positions on gay marriage, prescription drugs for seniors and a sales tax increase.

Mendros said he put out the ads because he is being opposed by a write-in candidate. That qualified him last week for more taxpayer Clean Election money, Mendros said, so he spent $1,400 to mail out the 2,500 cards.

However, Berube called the mailing “a ploy against Rotundo,” because the rating scores Madore – as well as Berube and Mendros – higher than Rotundo on the issues.

“I’m not supporting this Madore,” said Berube, who noted that she never voted on gay marriage despite getting a positive rating for her position on that issue in Mendros’ ad. “This is dirty, negative. It’s sleazy.”

She said she disapproves of campaign ads that “do things behind your back so late so you can’t refute them.”

Mendros expressed surprise that Berube didn’t like the ad. He said he was “stunned” and “heartbroken.”

“I sent it out as an opportunity to praise her publicly and what she’s done for the community,” Mendros said Monday. He said he also wanted to contrast Berube’s record to his record on important issues to illustrate how the two were alike. “I meant it as praise to her. And I did it to secure my Republican base.”

The ad “was only supposed to go to Republicans,” he added.

Mendros said he apologizes to Berube, and stressed that the ads did not say she endorses him.

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