AUGUSTA – The state’s ethics commission unanimously rejected a complaint filed against Gov. John Baldacci’s re-election campaign, the Maine Democratic Party and the national Democratic Governors Association.

Filed by independent gubernatorial candidate Barbara Merrill, the complaint questioned whether the Democratic Governors Association had made an inappropriate, in-kind contribution to Baldacci’s re-election campaign and whether there had been coordination between the campaign, the DGA and the state party.

“We have no evidence that there’s been a violation of the Maine Clean Election Act,” said Mavourneen Thompson, a member of the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.

The three other members of the commission who heard the case agreed.

At issue was work done by Democratic activist and lobbyist Pat Eltman. Eltman’s company, Public Affairs Group of Augusta, is under contract to the DGA to provide information on gubernatorial races in eight states, including Maine. She is also a personal friend of Baldacci and his campaign manager, Jesse Connolly, and has provided general advice to them during the campaign.

Merrill’s complaint was prompted by an article that appeared in the Oct. 25 edition of the Portland Phoenix, a weekly newspaper. The article outlined the work done by Eltman for the DGA and her relationship with Baldacci and Connolly.

During testimony before the commission, representatives from Merrill’s campaign said the duel roles played by Eltman, as friend and volunteer and DGA consultant, clearly presented the opportunity for a coordinated campaign effort between the Baldacci camp, the state party and the DGA.

Jim Bowers, Merrill’s campaign treasurer, said the arrangement smacked of a “wink and a nod” approach to the state’s campaign finance laws.

“It seems pretty clear from the article that she was providing services to the campaign,” Bowers said.

After tough questioning of Eltman, the Maine Democratic Party and Connolly, the four members of the ethics commission disagreed with Merrill.

“The people of the state of Maine wanted clean elections. That’s why they voted for it,” said Commissioner Michael Friedman. “We still have to be mindful of everyone’s right to engage in free political expression. I don’t think there was any violation of the Maine Clean Election Act.”

Afterward, Beryl Leach, Merrill’s campaign manager, said she was disappointed with the decision, but said that the campaign would abide by the ruling. She said Merrill did not plan to appeal the decision.

Connolly, for his part, was relieved.

“The commission did a very thorough job,” Connolly said. “Now we can focus on the real issues that matter, not tax liens and ethics complaints.”