A Democratic Maine lawmaker has pleaded not guilty to a charge that she illegally interfered with a municipal election in April.

Rep. Nina Milliken, D-Blue Hill, was charged last month with attempting to influence another person’s decision, a Class E misdemeanor, and was scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment Tuesday.

Her attorney, Will Ashe, said Wednesday that Milliken entered a plea of not guilty in writing in advance and in keeping with court rules.

Milliken was summonsed on the charge in early September after she allegedly “attempted to influence another person’s decision regarding a candidate or ballot issue” while within 250 feet of the entrance to a voting place, as well as within the voting place itself, in Blue Hill in April, according to a complaint filed in Ellsworth District Court by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

Milliken “strongly denies” the charge and any allegation of wrongdoing, Ashe said Wednesday. He said she was present at the Blue Hill town hall as a representative of select board candidate Amanda Woog’s campaign and was greeting voters as allowed by law.

Maine law prohibits attempts to influence voters’ decisions on candidates and ballot questions on public property within 250 feet of the entrance to voting places as well as within voting places on Election Day.

Candidates or their representatives may not state the name of the office the candidate is seeking in that election year, wear buttons or campaign apparel displaying the candidate’s name or the office they’re seeking, or express support or opposition for a candidate, though they may otherwise greet voters.

Milliken only stated to voters that she was a “friend of Amanda Woog” and followed guidance on the law that she had received in advance from the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Ashe said.

Ashe said he and Milliken “are also concerned that the initial investigation was prompted directly by the sheriff of Hancock County (a Republican), who has been critical of Rep. Milliken in the past.”  

Sheriff Scott Kane did not respond to a voicemail message or email seeking comment.

Milliken’s next court date will be a dispositional conference. Ashe did not immediately respond to a question about whether a date has been set yet, and a court clerk could not be reached Wednesday.