Rep. Robertson Fined Over Missing Campaign Finance Filings

WILMINGTON, MA — State Rep. Dave Robertson has been fined $2,000 over missing campaign finance filings in the 2020 election campaign.

Robertson, a Democrat representing Tewksbury and Wilmington, failed to report over $15,000 in out-of-pocket expenditures in Aug. through Oct. 2020.

Under a disposition agreement with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance signed March 4, Robertson will pay $2,000 to the state and disclose spending properly in the future. The Wilmington and Tewksbury Town Crier first reported this story.

"I am pleased to have worked with OCPF to properly clarify and record how my own personal, out-of-pocket expenses were meant to be stated, and am confident going forward that this issue is permanently resolved," Robertson said in the agreement.

Patch has reached out to Robertson for comment and will update this story when we hear back.

Under state law, there's no limit on out-of-pocket spending by candidates on their own campaigns, but they are required to spend out of campaign accounts for anything more than $100, to ensure proper disclosure.

Robertson spent $15,399.05 on campaign materials outside of an account largely over a period where his campaign reported only two expenditures totaling $6.

The state campaign finance office contacted Robertson about the apparent missing disclosure, the campaign disclosed $3,300 in spending in the second half of Oct. and filed an "external activity report" disclosing the $15,000 spent by the candidate.

Following questions from Patch and Robertson's challenger in the 2020 election, Alec DiFruscia, Robertson announced Oct. 20 that his treasurer had resigned over the missing filings.

"In a series of unfortunate oversights, my campaign's Treasurer fell behind on reporting regular and expected campaign expenses," Robertson said at the time.

Robertson's former treasurer, Jesse Fennelly, serves on the Wilmington School Committee. Robertson attributed the missing filings to the work Fennelly has had to put in as part of the school district's response to the coronavirus.

According to the Town Crier, Wilmington Town Moderator Rob Peterson is Robertson's new campaign treasurer.

The $2,000 will come from Robertson's personal funds, not the campaign.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.