Dems Want Investigation of Campaign Finance Scheme

The Massachusetts Democratic Party chair John Walsh has asked the Office of Campaign and Political Finance to investigate an alleged financial scheme that involved a Marlborough Republican group that channeled campaign funds for Andover Rep. Paul Adams, among others.

Citing a story by the Eagle Tribune last week, Walsh wrote to OCPF director Michael Sullivan and asked the the department to investigate "questionable financial spending" by the Marlborough Republican Town Committee.

Using details from an Eagle Tribune story, Walsh charged that the Marlborough RTC took roughly $30,000 in donations from family members of Rep. Paul Adams, R-Andover, and then provided pamphlets for his campaign. He claims this misled voters and the public in terms of how much he spent on his 2010 election campaign.

Walsh also said that Adams was not the only policitican to receive services from the Marlborough Republican Town Committee.

"Since 2010, the Marlborough RTC has financed the campaign operations of six Republican candidates for State Representative. These candidates include: Paul Adams (17^th Essex); Nicholas Boldyga (3^rd Hampden); Marc Lombardo (22^nd Middlesex); James Lyons (18^th Essex); Keiko Orrall (12^th Bristol); and George Ross (2^nd Bristol). The Marlborough RTC provided these candidates with mailings, paid canvassers, and GOTV operations," Walsh wrote in his letter to Sullivan.

Walsh said when donation contributions maxed out with the Marlborough RTC, candidates would then donate to the Massachusetts Independent PAC for Working Families (MIPAC).

"The Marlborough RTC, MIPAC, and Republican candidates have participated in a multi-step financial scheme to mislead voters on how their campaigns were operated," Walsh said in the letter.