Comments on: Campaign Finance Activity – City Council 2009 (Jan 1 to Dec 31) http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=345 A supplement to the Cambridge Civic Journal Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:33:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Robert Winters http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=345&cpage=1#comment-211 Robert Winters Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:29:59 +0000 http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=345#comment-211 I don't see any deficits in the campaign finance numbers. Most incumbents started the year with a balance and though they may have spent more than they raised during this calendar year, they all still carry a positive balance in the campaign accounts. Since these are depository accounts administered by their bank, there is really no other option. That said, some of the campaigns still have unpaid bills. For the most part, these will be paid by the end of the year. However, the year-end reports will show any remaining liabilities, including both an accounting of the money loaned by candidates to their campaign (which they may want back or one day "forgive") as well as any remaining unpaid bills. Perhaps the most curious aspect of the liabilities is that some candidates (Marjorie Decker in particular) show significant unpaid bills that remain unpaid for years. In her case, she had <strong><a href="http://www.efs.cpf.state.ma.us/DisplayReport.aspx?reportId=90521&schedule=DisplayScheduleD rel="nofollow">$16,142.60 in unpaid bills at the end of 2008</a></strong>, most of which was owed to Cambridge Offset Printing dating back several years. There does come a point where one has to question whether this is an unpaid bill or an (illegal) in-kind donation far in excess of the $500 annual limit. I don’t see any deficits in the campaign finance numbers. Most incumbents started the year with a balance and though they may have spent more than they raised during this calendar year, they all still carry a positive balance in the campaign accounts. Since these are depository accounts administered by their bank, there is really no other option.

That said, some of the campaigns still have unpaid bills. For the most part, these will be paid by the end of the year. However, the year-end reports will show any remaining liabilities, including both an accounting of the money loaned by candidates to their campaign (which they may want back or one day “forgive”) as well as any remaining unpaid bills. Perhaps the most curious aspect of the liabilities is that some candidates (Marjorie Decker in particular) show significant unpaid bills that remain unpaid for years. In her case, she had $16,142.60 in unpaid bills at the end of 2008, most of which was owed to Cambridge Offset Printing dating back several years. There does come a point where one has to question whether this is an unpaid bill or an (illegal) in-kind donation far in excess of the $500 annual limit.

]]> By: Marynia Mackiewicz http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=345&cpage=1#comment-208 Marynia Mackiewicz Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:27:50 +0000 http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=345#comment-208 Hi Robert, your website is fascinating and much needed. There is info here that, unfortunately, is not on the Cambridge website. I was wondering if you could help me some of the numbers. In the campaign expenditures section, I noticed that some candidates ran up deficits. Does this mean there are city councilors who owe money? Thanks for your time. Hi Robert, your website is fascinating and much needed. There is info here that, unfortunately, is not on the Cambridge website. I was wondering if you could help me some of the numbers. In the campaign expenditures section, I noticed that some candidates ran up deficits. Does this mean there are city councilors who owe money?

Thanks for your time.

]]> By: J Chase http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=345&cpage=1#comment-165 J Chase Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:49:57 +0000 http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=345#comment-165 It would be interesting to see the total under each column. We could easily see how much is collected and spent in Cambridge each election. It would be interesting to see the total under each column. We could easily see how much is collected and spent in Cambridge each election.

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