As iMediaEthics recently reported, the Portland Press Herald reportedly gave almost $47,000 worth of free advertising to a campaign for Portland, Maine to have a directly elected mayor.  As a result, former Portland Charter Commission member Thomas Valleau reportedly has filed a complaint with the ethics commission.

“Valleau thinks the paper violated Maine campaign laws,” the Boston Globe reported.  “He also says newspapers shouldn’t be giving free ads to political campaigns they favor.”

The Press Herald reported the ethics complaint itself here.  Michelle Lester, advertising vice president for MaineToday Media Inc., the Press Herald’s parent company, reportedly stated that the free advertising wasn’t for the political campaign.

“The Portland Press Herald offers in-kind advertising space to the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce,” Lester is quoted as saying.  “The use of that space is at its discretion.”