State Rep. Elizabeth Dickerson of House District 93 resigned from the Maine House of Representatives, saying she has decided to move to another state.

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap set a special election to fill Dickerson’s seat for March 10, 2015.

Candidates must be nominated by February 9, 2015.

Lobbying

Indiana: “House Education Chair Robert Behning Backs Off Lobbying Plan” by Tom LoBianco for Indianapolis Star

Kentucky: “Record $18M Spent Lobbying Legislature” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal

Tennessee: “Lobbyists Spent Record Amount of $725K Last Year on ‘Wining and Dining’ Events” by The Associated Press for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Vermont: “Should Lobbyists Be Required to Wear Nametags at Vt. Statehouse?” by Kyle Midura for WCAX

Campaign Finance

“The Rise of ‘Scam PACs’” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

New York: “Legalized Bribery” by Zephyr Teachout for New York Times

New York: “Developer Who Keeps Low Profile Is Embroiled in Silver Scandal” by Charles Bagli for New York Times

Ethics

Massachusetts: “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished” by Jack Sullivan for CommonWealth Magazine

Elections

“Romney’s Consideration of Candidacy Is Closely Tied to His Faith, Allies Say” by Ashley Parker and Alex Thompson for New York Times

A by-election will be held on February 5 to select a representative for the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada, for the Electoral District of Sudbury. The by-election was announced on January 7 by Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa.

The campaign period for candidates began on January 7 and will end on May 5.

Photo of the Ontario Legislative Building by Andrijko Z. on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Jerry Brown has announced special elections to fill vacancies in state Senate Districts 7, 21, and 37. The vacancies were created by departures of three former state senators to Congress.

The special primary ballot is scheduled for March 17, 2015. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff will take place on May 19.

Lobbying

“L.A. Alliance for a New Economy Confirms Failure to Report Lobbying” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

“In Unusual Arrangement, W.Va. Party Chairmen Double as Lobbyists” by David Gutman for Charleston Gazette

Campaign Finance

“Brian Foley Gets 3 Months in Halfway House in Rowland Case” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror

“Illinois Inauguration Raises Questions of Corporate Influence” by Mark Guarino for Reuters

“Judge Blocks City Campaign Fundraising Rule” by Theodore Schleifer for Houston Chronicle

Ethics

“Christie Ethics Adviser’s Law Firm Does Work for Port Authority” by Matt Friedman for Newark Star Ledger

Elections

“How Campaigns Are Courting 16-Year-Olds” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico

“Vermont Governor Re-Elected After Failing to Win Majority” by David Gram (Associated Press) for ABC News

Legislative Issues

“G.O.P. Governors Face Test in Shift on Ideological Agendas” by Campbell Robertson and Trip Gabriel for New York Times

“Expenses Quietly Inflate S.C. Legislators’ Salaries” by Jamie Self for The State

Gov. Peter Shumlin has finally won reelection following a vote of the state legislature. Shumlin received just 46.4 percent of the vote in November, less than the majority required by the state constitution, compelling the legislature’s action.

Scott Milne received 45.1 percent of the vote but, unlike previous runners-up, he did not concede the election.

By secret ballots cast in a joint session of the House and Senate, Gov. Shumlin received 110 votes to Milne’s 69.

Photo of Gov. Peter Shumlin by Community College of Vermont on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

“Waning Influence? Part 3: Ups and Downs, by Industry” by Dan Auble for Center for Responsive Politics

“PSC Rejects FPL’s Lobbying Fee Request” by Susan Salisbury for Palm Beach Post

“Boston-to-D.C. Flights Showcase Region’s Power Players” by Matt Viser for Boston Globe

Campaign Finance

“Wall Street Money Can Predict How Democrats Vote. Here’s How” by Chris Wilson and Pratheek Rebala for Time

“National Parties, Donors Embrace Higher Campaign Limits” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

“Ethics Panel Wants State Agencies, Employees to Disclosure Campaign Activity” by Mario Moretto (Bangor Daily News) for Lewiston Sun Journal

Ethics

“Languid, Lax Congressional Ethics Disciplinary System May Pick Up Pace in 2015” by David Hawkins for Roll Call

“‘Boss’ Gifts to Pittsburgh Employees from Peduto Raise Questions” by Bob Bauder for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Elections

“The Tortoise and the Hare” by Maggie Haberman for Politico

Redistricting

“Panel Adopts Ideas for Changing Virginia’s Redistricting Process” by Jenna Portnoy for Washington Post

Lobbying

Arkansas: “Schools Rethinking Gifts to Arkansas Lawmakers Following Passage of Constitutional Amendment” by the Associated Press for Greenfield Reporter

Florida: “Homestead’s Former Mayor Sentenced to 22 Months in Corruption Case” by David Ovalle and Melhor Marie Leonor for Miami Herald

Maine: “Maine Public in the Dark on Local-Issue Lobbying” by Steve Mistler for Portland Press Herald

West Virginia: “Statehouse Beat: Lobbyists change with new Legislature” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Campaign Finance

“Here’s Where Campaign Finance Reform May Move Ahead As Congress Dithers” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post

Ethics

Pennsylvania: “Kane’s Account of Sting Draws Increasing Fire” by Craig McCoy and Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania: “Who’s Minding the Store for Legislative Ethics?” by Joe Smydo for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wisconsin: “GAB Declined to Reauthorize Walker Campaign Probe” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Elections Board Director Defends Work, Structure, Amid Calls for Overhaul” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Elections

“Tea Partier Braces for Primary Challenge from the Establishment” by Manu Raju for Politico

Redistricting

North Carolina: “NC Supreme Court Upholds GOP-Drawn Legislative and Congressional Districts” by Ann Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer

Del. Joseph D. Morrissey announced he has resigned his seat, prompting a special election on January 13, 2015. The lawmaker entered an Alford plea on a misdemeanor count of contributing to the deliquency of a minor, acknowledging sufficient evidence for a conviction but not admitting guilt. The charge stems from an alleged relationship with a 17-year-old receptionist in his office.

Morressey plans to run in the special election to regain the House District 74 seat, leaving the decision of whether or not he should be removed from office to the voters.

Photo of Joseph D. Morrissey by Cliff on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

“Republican Congress Lures Lobbyists Back to Capitol Hill” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

“Mollis Adopts Hearing Officer’s Decision that Corso Engaged in Unregistered Lobbying Related to 38 Studios” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“Secretive Nonprofits Flourished – and Succeeded – in 2014 State Elections” by Reity O’Brien for The Center for Public Integrity

“Who Wants to Buy a Politician?” by Binyamin Appelbaum for New York Times

“New FEC Chief on ‘Dark Money’ Mission” by Dave Levinthal for The Center for Public Integrity

“Ethics Commission Hits Former Candidate, Treasurer with $43,000 Fine” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

“PA Supreme Court: Law firm can forgive U.S. Rep. Bob Brady’s 2007 debt” by Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Daily News

“State High Court to Take up Doe Cases Centered on Walker’s Campaign” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

“Payouts to McCrory, Sanford from Mortgage Broker Raise Ethical Questions” by Michael Biesecker and Mitch Weiss (Associated Press) for Charlotte Observer

Elections

“Jeb Bush’s Decision to Explore Presidential Bid Scrambles the 2016 GOP Field” by Matea Gold and Philip Rucker for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

“Message to Lawmakers: Say what you really think” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

A special election has been scheduled for April 28, 2015, to fill vacant council seats in Wards 4 and 8. Several prospective candidates for the Ward 8 seat have already obtained nominating petitions, and several other candidates are expected to enter the race before the petition filing deadline on January 28, 2015.

The Ward 8 seat was held by long-time District politician Marion Barry, who recently passed away. The Ward 4 seat was held by Muriel Bowser, who is the mayor-elect.

Gov. Terry Branstad has called a special election on January 6, 2015 to fill the state House District 4 seat formerly held by Dwayne Alons.

Alons passed away recently after serving in the Iowa Legislature since 1999.

The timing of the special election will allow the newly elected lawmaker to be present for 2015 legislative session, which convenes January 12, 2015.

Lobbying

“Ethics Panel Eyes Lawmakers’ Meals” in The Columbian

Campaign Finance

“New Study Finds Companies’ Campaign Donations Linked to Lower Tax Rates” by Debbie Freeman for Arizona State University

“Ethics Panel Seeks Change in Law to Stop Candidates from Paying Self from PAC” by Naomi Schalit (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting) for Lewiston Sun Journal

“Election Ads Were About Issues, Says ‘Carolina Rising’ Chief” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity

Ethics

“Alcorn County Pays Ex-Lawmaker Thousands for Jail Work” by Emily Wagster Pettus for Hattiesburg Daily American

“Report Suggests Davis Conflict in Nursing Home Case” by Kate White for Charleston Gazette

Elections

“How to Handle a Broken Campaign Promise” by Nathan Gonzales for Roll Call

“L.A. Voters Won’t Be Offered Cash Prizes in March City Election” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Legislative Issues

“New Leader, New Rules for SC House” by Cassie Cope for The State

“State Lawmakers Poised for Pay Bump” by David Saleh-Rauf for San Antonio Express-News

Secretary of State Brian Kemp has called a special election to fill the seat in House District 120. The special election is set for January 6, 2015, and a runoff will be held on February 3, if necessary.

The newly re-elected Rep. Mickey Channell announced he will not fill the seat when the new term begins on January 12, 2015.