OCPF Reports Published quarterly by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance Commonwealth of Massachusetts Volume 12, Number 1 Spring/Summer 2007 From the Director On to the cities Legislative candidates Election season is gearing up in cities across the spent almost $12m in 2006 Commonwealth, with elected Candidates for the House and Senate, 70 candidates reported a total municipal offices, including Senate spent just under $11.9 million in of $4,612,580 raised and $4,596,300 mayor, on the fall ballot. their campaigns for the Legislature spent, down from $7.6 million in both Though we at OCPF provide last year, according to a new study by categories two years before. The the reporting forms that local the Office of Campaign and Political 2006 averages were $65,894 raised clerks and election official Finance. and $65,661 spent – both distributed to these candidates, The 339 candidates a drop of about $28,000 the vast majority file their reported receipts of from 2004. campaign finance reports to How much can $12,398,381 and expendi- In the House, the 269 those local officials. The only you give to all tures of $11,877,068. candidates raised exceptions are candidates for Neither figure is a record candidates? $7,785,801 and spent mayor and councilor-at-large in for aggregate fundraising Page 5 $7,280,786, which were the five largest cities — Boston, or spending; in fact, both decreases of $1.9 million Cambridge, Lowell, Springfield represent a significant drop and $2.7 million, respec- and Worcester — who report from the all-time highs of $17.3 tively, from 2004. The average directly to OCPF. Those million and $17.6 million, respectively, amount raised by a House candidate candidates and their banks file posted in 2004 by 390 candidates. was $28,943, down almost $2,500 their reports electronically. The decrease in activity was also from 2004, and the average spent was While municipal candidates reflected in the breakdown of figures $27,066, a decrease of about $5,200. clearly do not account for the for each chamber in 2006. In the majority of the filers with this Continued on Page 2 office, we are fully aware of the importance of their races in each city. Reporting schedule varies for It’s also important to remember that the campaign finance law applies to local special House, Senate elections candidates as much as it does Recent resignations by some state those seeking state or county The special election for Barrios' seat senators and representatives have led office. All those running for any has been scheduled for Oct. 9, with a to a series of special elections for elected office, state, county or primary on Sept. 11. vacant seats. local, are required to file In the House, two representatives, So far in 2007, two senators have campaign finance reports. The James Leary, D-Worcester, and announced their departure: Senate office to which the reports are Robert Coughlin, D-Dedham, resigned President Robert Travaglini, D- filed may vary, as might the to take positions in the administration Boston, and Jarrett Barrios, D- of Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Cambridge. Travaglini's seat was Continued on Page 6 Timothy Murray. Those seats have filled in late June with the election of since been filled by James O'Day, D- Rep. Anthony Petruccelli, D-Boston. Continued on Page 2 OCPF Reports Page 2 Spring/Summer 2007 Study: Legislative candidates spent $11.9m in 2006 From Page 1 The House race featuring the of $353,202. That figure trails the A major reason for the decline in highest spending was in the 3rd Suffolk House record of $370,641 set by total activity was a drop in the number District, where House Speaker DiMasi’s predecessor as speaker, of candidates from 2004, as 51 fewer Salvatore DiMasi, D-Boston, and Thomas Finneran, in 2002. candidates sought legislative office in Republican challenger Kenneth For the most part, the 2006 figures 2006. In addition, last year’s election Procaccianti spent a total of $355,113. followed the trends established in saw fewer contested races and more DiMasi, who was re-elected, ac- previous legislative reports: Demo- unopposed incumbents, which trans- counted for 98 percent of the total crats, who outnumber Republicans in lated into less spending. The total and spending in the race. The spending both chambers, once again outspent average amount spent by challengers total in this race is a new record, their GOP counterparts, both in total dropped significantly from 2004, when surpassing the $347,148 spent in the and on average. Incumbents were several non-incumbents recorded 11th Norfolk District in 2002. That more likely to have higher spending spending much higher than previous four-way race was won by Rep. than those not holding legislative averages. Robert Coughlin, D-Dedham, who office, and contested races also saw The Senate race with the highest resigned his seat earlier this year. greater campaign finance activity. spending in 2006 was in the Berkshire, The top spenders in both chambers Figures in the study are subject to Hampshire and Franklin District, in 2006 were also their presiding further amendment by candidates and where seven candidates spent officers. Senate President Robert committees after its compilation. For $413,630 to succeed outgoing Sen. Travaglini, D-Boston, spent $459,871 the most current data, visit OCPF’s Andrea Nuciforo. The winner, in his unopposed re-election campaign. Electronic Filing System, accessible Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, The spending reported by Travaglini through OCPF’s website at prevailed despite not being the top (who resigned his seat earlier this www.mass.gov/ocpf. spender in the race. The highest year) fell short of the record for a The study is online on OCPF’s amount ever spent for a Senate race Senate candidate, which was the website, at www.mass.gov/ocpf/ was the $809,637 spent in 2002 for the $474,095 recorded by his successor as legrpt06.pdf. The study and other Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex District president, Therese Murray, D-Ply- past studies of campaign finance seat won by Jarrett Barrios, D- mouth, in a contested race in 2004. activity may also be found in the Cambridge. (Barrios recently resigned The top spender in the House in "OCPF Studies" section of the from the Senate.) 2006 was Speaker DiMasi, with a total website. Special elections: Reporting dates for candidates Candidates in special legislative OCPF's online database. The data- From Page 1 elections also file campaign finance base contains reports from legislative West Boylston, and Paul McMurtry, reports, though the schedule varies candidates dating back to 2002. D-Dedham. slightly from that of regularly sched- Those reports may be accessed on As this issue went to publication, a uled elections. the OCPF website, at www.mass.gov/ special election had not yet been Special election candidates file ocpf. Click on either the "Electronic called to fill the House seat vacated reports eight days before both the Filing" or Campaign Finance Reports" when Petruccelli moves to the Senate primary and final elections -- just like tabs. in July. An election to fill a vacancy those running in regular elections. Visitors to the website may also must be called by the applicable The third report for the special find a lineup of scheduled special chamber. election varies from that in the No- elections and their applicable cam- vember election, which is filed on Jan. paign finance filing dates. 20. The special election report is filed 30 days after the special election. Visit OCPF Online at Like other legislative candidates, www.mass.gov/ocpf those running in special elections file their reports electronically using OCPF Reports Page 3 Spring/Summer 2007 Recent Cases and Rulings OCPF audits all campaign finance re- funds to his committee in October 2006. • 06-97: Mayor James Ruberto, Pitts- ports and reviews all complaints alleging As part of the agreement, he also paid field. Did not comply (Use of public violations of the campaign finance law. These $10,000 in committee funds to the Com- resources for campaign purposes); 2/13/ audits and reviews may result in enforce- monwealth, amended his past campaign 07. The use of city resources by a mayor ment actions or rulings such as public reso- finance reports to include the missing or to arrange a press conference in his City lution letters, disposition agreements or re- incomplete information and agreed to pro- Hall office for the purpose of endorsing a ferral to the Office of the Attorney General vide additional disclosure to OCPF candidate was an improper use of public for further action. through 2009, including bank statements resources for a political purpose. The A public resolution letter may be issued in and mid-year paper reports. prohibition was not violated, however, by instances where OCPF found "no reason to the use of the city’s high school for believe" a violation occurred; where "no • Lavalier Alves, Wilbraham (3/27/07) another candidate’s rally, which included further action" or investigation is war- The agreement with Alves, controller of students and the school band. ranted: or where a subject "did not comply" Berkshire Development LLC of Spring- • 06-68: Somerville Divestment Project, with the law but the case is able to be settled field, stemmed from his role in the delivery Somerville. Did not comply (Disclosure of in an informal fashion with an educational of $5,000 in illegal contributions to the ballot question expenditures); 2/20/07. A letter and/or a requirement that some cor- campaign of Springfield Mayor Charles ballot question committee organized to rective action be taken.