Tewksbury Rep. David A. Robertson Fined $2K for Using His Own Money to Finance His Campaign

State Rep. David A. Robertson of Tewksbury agreed to a total civil forfeiture payment of $2,000 to resolve issues of non-disclosure in his 2020 reelection campaign, according to a disposition agreement between the candidate and OCPF.

Robertson acknowledged that during the 2020 primary and general elections, he personally spent $15,399 without utilizing his campaign bank account, according to the disposition agreement. The expenditures, using the candidate’s personal funds, included door hangers, letters and signs, and newspaper and Facebook advertisements.

Because the expenditures were not made using the committee bank account, there was not timely disclosure of campaign activity.

There is no limit on the amount of money a candidate may spend to promote his or her own election. However, candidates are required to pay for goods and services that cost more than $100 with funds that have been previously deposited into their campaign bank accounts, to provide the public with full, accurate and timely disclosure.

After this matter was brought to the candidate’s attention, the committee filed a campaign finance report on Oct. 19 disclosing the expenditures spent by the candidate outside the depository system.

As part of the agreement with OCPF, the candidate agreed that all future campaign finance expenditures will be paid with funds on deposit in the committee’s depository bank account. He also agreed to appoint a new treasurer, and provide OCPF with campaign finance records, such as invoices and receipts, until July, 2022.

The candidate has personally paid $1,000 as a civil forfeiture to the state’s general fund, as part of the agreement. He agreed to pay another $1,000 before the end of the year.

The disposition agreement, available here, was signed by Michael Sullivan, OCPF’s director pro tem, and Robertson.

A disposition agreement is a voluntary written agreement entered into between the subject of a review and OCPF, in which the subject agrees to take certain actions.