The probe of two Clean Election candidates from central and western Maine shed light on a matrix of political players, some obscure and some prominent.

Julia St. James

Hartford

Self-described “stoner” and practicing Wiccan convicted of cultivating marijuana. She ran as independent (Fourth Branch Party) in the Senate District 14 race last year. Finished third with 4 percent of the vote. Was given more than $50,000 in public money. Is unable to fully account for most of it. Campaign treasurer was Larlee. Campaign manager was Rogers. Subpoenaed.

Sarah Trundy

Minot

Ran as a Green Party candidate in the House District 75 (now 96) race in 2004. Finished third with 15 percent of vote. Given more than $4,000 in public money. Is unable to account for most of it. Campaign treasurer was Larlee; Rogers was campaign consultant. Subpoenaed.

Jessica Larlee

Minot

Served as treasurer on St. James and Trundy campaigns. Self-professed psychic, industrial hemp activist and science fiction writer. President of Maine chapter of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws or NORML. Independent candidate for Maine House District 74 in 2002. Rogers was her campaign consultant. Got start in politics working for Michael of Auburn. Met Rogers through Michael. Subpoenaed.

Daniel Rogers

Lewiston

Served as campaign manager for St. James; consultant for Trundy. Also, was a paid political consultant for Larlee, Michael, Belinda Gerry and Mendros. Convicted of passing bad checks. Repeatedly pled the Fifth during Ethics Commission questioning. Authored pro-same-sex-marriage mailer in a Biddeford race aimed at smearing Democrat candidate. Subpoenaed.

Stavros Mendros

Lewiston

City councilor. Two-term GOP state representative. Congressional candidate. Close to Michael and Rogers. Involved in a set-up date with St. James, reportedly to allow St. James access to his Republican voter list. Subpoenaed.

John Michael

Auburn

Ran unsuccessfully as independent for governor in 2002, finishing with 2 percent of the vote. Got 9 percent in 2nd Congressional District race in 1994. Served seven terms in Maine House through 2002. Censured by the House Ethics Committee for unprofessional conduct in 2001. Professional political consultant, specializing in referendums. Worked with Rogers on referendum campaigns. Rogers worked on Michael’s gubernatorial bid. Launched Larlee on her career as political activist.

Belinda Gerry

Auburn

City counselor. Served three terms in the Maine House as an independent. Rogers worked on her unsuccessful 2002 Maine House race. Gerry is a friend of Michael’s, who helped launch her political career. Gerry notarized Clean Election registration papers for Pike.

Bruce Gerry

Auburn

Brother of Belinda. Ran for Maine House in 2000 as independent Clean Elections candidate. Rogers played minor role as volunteer in campaign, helping with political signs.

Leah Poulin

Lewiston

School Committee member. Mendros worked on her campaign, helping to gather signatures. Larlee said in testimony Rogers worked on Poulin’s campaign, but Poulin denied it. Said she really didn’t run a campaign.

Aaron Fuda

Norway

Hosts Fudafest festival to promote legalization of marijuana and public nudity. Fuda was paid $750 by the Trudy campaign for a voter list of people who support the legalization of marijuana.

Major Isaac Pike

Lewiston

Independent candidate for Senate District 16 in 2004. Referred to in testimony as “living under a bridge.” Larlee said he was recruited by her and Rogers as a “diversion” candidate to take Democrats’ attention off St. James’ campaign. Applied for but never qualified for Clean Election money.

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