State GOP Accuses Dykema of Accepting Corporate Campaign Contributions

The Massachusetts Republican Party on Wednesday filed a complaint with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance accusing state Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) of accepting corporate backing for her campaign.

Dykema solicited donations from local business for a raffle at her s last month, Massachusetts Republican Party Executive Director Nate Little said in a letter to the agency.

"At the picnic, Rep. Dykema conducted a raffle in which prizes were given out to benefit her candidacy. These prizes were donated by four corporations. These gifts are listed in Rep. Dykema’s campaign sponsored newsletter," Little wrote.

The gifts are listed as being gift certificates from , Red Barn Coffee Roasters Inc., ., and

In a press release from her campaign, Dykema said the picnic was not a campaign event, but a regular way of giving back to the community.

"I'm a firm believer in keeping corporate money out of politics. I was proud to support the House resolution denouncing the Citizens United decision, and I have always refused campaign donations from corporate political action committees (PACs). But that shouldn't mean we can't partner with our local businesses to promote a common goal -- in this case, supporting our local seniors," said Dykema, whose district includes Westborough Precinct 2.

Dykema said she and her predecessors from both parties have held the senior picnic for two decades. She said she was upset that it was being turned in to a political issue.

"I was surprised and saddened to see my opponent's GOP surrogates attack this long-standing, bi-partisan community tradition yesterday," she said in the release.