Vote Yes for Newton filed its 30-day post-election campaign finance report at City Hall on Thursday. The report shows the group raised an additional $4,700 since the February 24 ending of its pre-election report. Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and her husband together contributed $2000 of the additional funds raised, in four separate $500 contributions. Overall the Mayor and her husband contributed $6,000 (12.5%) of the funds raised over the course of the pro-override effort.
Of its total $48,201 raised, the Yes group spent $26,208 in the closing days of the campaign. The leading expenses were $9,601 for printing of its second run of mailers and $9,000 for January-March Consulting services from Castle Point. The group has not been dissolved, and it retains $2,801 in cash with no reported liabilities.
As of noon Friday, Newton Deputy City Clerk Cassidy Flynn confirmed that the opposing campaign, No Override Newton, had not yet filed its own report, due 30 days after the election — again falling behind campaign finance law requirements. The group previously delayed its 8-days-before-the-election report until March 22 — eight days after the election.
Fig City News spoke with Jason Tait, Director of Communication and Education for the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), to determine if there was activity associated with the previously delayed filing. He indicated that OCPF cannot confirm or deny cases that have been opened. The process works as follows: The City can send a letter to a committee immediately once a report is late, warning of a $25 for each day the report is not filed. If the report is not filed the City within 10 days, the City can refer the case to OCPF for review. Citizens can also file a complaint with OCPF for review. OCPF typically resolves issues through public resolution letters that are posted on its Agency Actions web page. OCPF also has the option to refer cases to the Attorney General for review.
The results of the March 14 election were mixed for the two committees, with the two proposed debt exclusions passing by roughly 1,000 votes and the operating override failing by a similar margin.
Update — No Override Newton for Newton treasurer Traute Marshall filed the group’s 30-day post-election report at city hall on April 19 — six days late. The report shows $655 in new fundraising and that the group depleted its funds down to $10.72. The bulk of spending in the final days of the campaign included $3500 for internet ad placement, $3143 for a mailer, and $1900 for telephone marketing.
