Quincy Mayor’s Campaign Pays $55,000 Over Illegal Donations, State Says

Overview

• The Office of Campaign and Political Finance said the Koch Committee made $55,000 in payments to resolve violations, including $15,000 to the Commonwealth and $40,000 directed to charities.
• Campaign filings show the $40,000 was split into two $20,000 donations to Quincy Asian Resources Inc. and the Quincy Dragon Boat Museum.
• Regulators identified at least $7,750 in corporate contributions, $3,091.34 in anonymous PayPal donations, and $6,550 in contributions via treasurer’s checks or similar instruments exceeding allowed limits, with additional apparent straw-donor activity not quantified.
• OCPF said it used summonses to obtain records, the committee agreed problems existed, and it will implement tighter pre-deposit contribution reviews and other internal accounting procedures.
• The agency considers the matter closed for now but warned of possible referral to the Attorney General for any future noncompliance, as the findings land during scrutiny over a proposed mayoral pay raise and recent City Council turnover.