It appears two groups opposing the Community Preservation Act may have violated the state’s campaign finance laws by missing the first deadline to report campaign contributions, but the law is long and confusing.
For candidates for elected office – local or state – the reporting times are eight days before the election, eight days after, 30 days following the election and Jan. 20 of the next year. For political committees there are different reporting days.
However, neither the Concerned Watertown Homeowners nor the Watertown Strong Schools group are political committees, since they did not form to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure.
They appear to fit under the Section 22 of the law applying to individuals or corporations making contributions. This section also includes “Any person or the treasurer of a corporation, association, organization or other group of persons, other than a political committee organized under section 5.”
These groups must file reports of campaign donations received, money spent on the campaign and in-kind donations. The reports must be submitted eight days before the election (this election that would be Oct. 31), eight days after the election (Nov. 16) and 30 days after the election, and on Jan. 20 of the year following the election.
The Town Clerk’s office received campaign finance reports from Invest in Watertown, the group supporting the CPA, but not from either the Concerned Watertown Homeowners or Watertown Strong Schools.
John Labadini, president of the Concerned Watertown Homeowners, said he did not realize he had to meet all the deadlines.
“Our understanding is that according to form CPF M-102 we have 30 days after the election to file,” Labadini said.
Watertown Strong Schools may not have to file a report. Section 22 is clear that an individual has to file if they spend or donated more than $250 to support or oppose a ballot question. For other groups or organization, no dollar amount is stated, so it may mean any contribution and expenditure must be reported.
The group has spend only a couple hundred dollars according to one member.
If it is determined there has been a violation, the section does have a list of possible fines and potential jail time. There is no required punishment. The maximum a group can be fined is $50,000, and the maximum penalty for “any officer, director or agent” of such a group is up to $10,000 and a year in jail.
My. . .my. . .after trying to rake others over the coals on adherence to fine points of the law, this is certainly precious.
I am sure it was an oversight, but given some of the vicious rhetoric demands for investigation of folks on the “Yes” side this is certainly egg on their faces. I wonder if they still want Maura Healy to investigate campaign violations in Watertown. Another twist in this ugly and embarrassing debate. May our town be rid of this blight.
Oh we need to get rid a blight all right….But it’s not the mainstream residents who don’t buy into the radical left wing agenda of certain Councilors. We’ll take care of that in 2017.
Again folks… the Yes side is being funded by out of Town and OUT OF STATE interests who have something to gain by the CPA’s passage. Mailers that taking an educated guess, cost between $15,000 and $30,000 all totaled… IF NOT MORE !
Just ask yourself before you vote: WHY OUR OF TOWN AND OUT OF STATE CORPORATE INTERESTS SO INTERESTED IN RAISING OUR TAXES?
Then ask yourself: ARE YOUR TAXES TO LOW?
Then ask yourself: DO YOU WANT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS TO HAVE A $2.2 MILLION SLUSH FUND, TO DO YET TO BE DETERMINED, LET ALONE PRICED PROJECTS?
Then cast your vote.
John, you don’t have a single ounce of shame or humility, do you? You just keep spouting the same unsubstantiated garbage.
Mr. DiMascio has gotten so unhinged that he has taken to shouting at us in all caps. Radical left wing agenda of certain councilors? This reeks of McCarthyism. John, the CPA has has been endorsed by Rep. John Hecht and Senator Will Brownsberger. Do you consider them radical left wingers? Get a grip, sir!
Can you explain where you get your figures of between $15,000 and $30,000 for mailers? This is utter nonsense. And I ask you, who are these “corporate interests” you speak of? If you can’t back up your claims, then you shouldn’t be making them. Show me the facts; otherwise, don’t bother wasting my time.
So let me get this straight….Concerned homeowners in Watertown will get a HARSHER penalty for this political idiocy than our Secretary of State gets FOR SHARING TOP SECRET INFORMATION OVER AN UNSECURED SERVER! …. We’re doomed.
Just to be clear, the fines and jail times are the maximum penalties. They are not mandatory sentences or penalties.
Jim, assuming that it was an innocent mistake, there will probably not be any sort of harsh penalty.
Please see today’s news about the FBI’s announcement. Case closed.
But let me be clear: I don’t feel that the Concerned Homeowners should have the book thrown at them, even though they wanted to see their opponents put in stocks in Watertown Square.