RightSize Newton Campaign Finance Law Violation 'Unintentional'

NEWTON, MA — The group that is accusing the mayor of violating campaign finance law was investigated for finance campaign reform last month itself.

The state's office of Campaign and Political Finance found the non-profit organization violated campaign finance law, but unintentionally, according to a finding.

"Based upon our conversations with you and other [RightSize Newton] members, we believe that [RightSize Newton's] lack of compliance was unintentional and the result of a misunderstanding of the campaign finance law," said Michael Sullivan, director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance in a letter.

The state said it would not punish the group because it had taken steps to correct what had happened.

"Suffice it to say, we made a pretty minor mistake," said the group's president Randall Block. "We spent very little money on the election ($1,650 mostly on flyers and stickers listing our endorsed candidates)."

The case is now closed and the group's focus is on the mayor.

The group filed a complaint against the mayor to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance for trying to influence the outcome of what is likely to become a ballot question in the months ahead on the Northland Development project.

"Our complaint regarding the mayor's use of city resources to oppose the pending ballot initiative had nothing to do with the complaint against [RightSize Newton]," said Block. "In our opinion, the mayor's violation of OCPF regulations was (and is) far more serious than what we did which really had to do with how we reported our campaign spending."

Letter From OCPF to RightSize Newton:

Previously:

RightSize Newton Files Complaint Against Mayor

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).