What’s your clean elections funding paying for? Not what you’d expect.

Maine taxpayers have paid for about $3.3 million in campaign-related expenses for 2016 legislative candidates, according to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices. Money from the taxpayer-financed Clean Election Act has been used to buy candy and party beads, thank you cards, food for volunteers, batteries and T-shirts. About 230 candidates – 60 for the House and 175 for the Senate - have signed on for the funding, which requires them to collect $5 qualifying contributions from registered voters. Here are some of the items they’ve purchased:

T-Shirts

Maine Senate District 1 Republican candidate Timothy Guerrette has expensed $3,141 worth of T-shirts.

Maine Senate District 2 Republican candidate Ricky Long expensed $1100 for shirts, hats and ink pens.

Maine Senate District 1 Democratic candidate Troy Jackson expensed $950.

Drill Batteries

Maine Senate District 1 Democratic candidate Troy Jackson expensed $73.84 for drill batteries.

Flags

Maine Senate District 2 Republican candidate Ricky Long expensed $450 for parades. The money was paid to the Maine Senate Republican Majority PAC.

Candy

Maine Senate District 1 Republican candidate Timothy Guerrette: $186

Maine Senate District 17 Republican candidate Tom Saviello: $88

Maine Senate District 2 Republican candidate Ricky Long: $64

Maine Senate District 1 Democratic candidate Troy Jackson: $42

Office Furniture

Maine Senate District 17 Republican candidate Tom Saviello expensed $675 for a computer and $345 for a desk, end tables and chairs.

Maine Senate District 1 Democratic candidate Troy Jackson expensed $23 for a phone.

Food

Maine State District 2 Republican candidate Ricky Long expensed $240 from the Sherman Thriftway for food volunteers.

Maine Senate District 1 Democratic candidate Troy Jackson expensed $135 for a meal from the China Garden for 20 volunteers.

Thank-You Cards

Maine Senate District 1 Republican candidate Timothy Guerrette expensed $50 for cards, “not purchased anywhere else.”

Music

Maine Senate District 27 Democratic candidate Ben Chipman expensed $300 for a campaign event featuring entertainment by “Jerks of Grass.”

Labor or "Parade Assistance"

Maine Senate District 1 Republican candidate Timothy Guerrette expensed $600.

Maine Senate District 17 Republican candidate Tom Saviello expensed $100.

Party (Mardi Gras) Beads

Maine Senate District 17 Republican candidate Tom Saviello expensed $213 for Mardi Gras beads used in a parade.