Quincy Mayor Faces Campaign Finance Violations Amid Salary Controversy

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch is grappling with multiple campaign finance violations following a routine audit by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF). The findings culminated in an order for Koch to pay a settlement of $55,000. This development comes at a time when the mayor is also facing scrutiny over a proposal for a substantial salary increase.

In a letter dated last week, William Campbell, director of the OCPF, informed Koch that the audit revealed significant noncompliance with Massachusetts campaign finance laws. The investigation stemmed from various complaints and determined that the Koch Committee had failed to accurately reflect contributor information and improperly accepted contributions exceeding legal limits.

To resolve the violations, the Koch Committee agreed to pay $15,000 to the Commonwealth and $40,000 to charities of its choosing. The committee has also committed to implementing stricter internal accounting procedures to ensure compliance in the future. Although Campbell stated that the OCPF considers the matter “closed,” he indicated that further violations could lead to referral to the Attorney General.

The OCPF’s findings highlighted several key violations, including instances where individuals made contributions that were later reimbursed by another party. This raised concerns regarding “true source violations,” as Campbell underscored the law’s prohibition against disguising the origin of contributions.

According to Campbell, the law mandates that any campaign contribution must be made in the contributor’s name, with their residential address disclosed at the time of the donation. The Koch Committee’s failure to adhere to this requirement resulted in the improper retention of funds from anonymous contributions, totaling $3,091.34, received via PayPal.

Additionally, the OCPF discovered that the Koch Committee had accepted multiple contributions exceeding the legal threshold of $100, totaling $6,550. The committee also received $7,750 in prohibited corporate contributions, which violates state law that prohibits businesses from financially aiding political campaigns.

In response to the allegations, the Koch Committee issued a statement acknowledging the compliance issues and expressing gratitude for the OCPF’s guidance. Chris Walker, Koch’s chief of staff, emphasized that the committee had acted swiftly to resolve the identified issues and had always aimed to comply with campaign finance regulations.

As the controversy unfolds, Koch is simultaneously pursuing a pay raise from his current salary of $159,141. His initial request for a 79% raise was met with resistance, prompting him to revise his proposal to $225,000. If approved by the City Council, the new salary would take effect in the next mayoral term, scheduled for 2028.

Koch has defended the salary increase by stating, “To be clear, this is about the position of the mayor, and not just about me.” He added that he has not yet decided on running for re-election, which adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding his leadership and financial management.

As this situation develops, both Koch and the residents of Quincy will be keenly observing how these financial and ethical concerns impact the local political landscape.