New Super PAC Spends Big On Local Massachusetts Races

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A new super PAC with ties to Republicans and some of the state's largest businesses has spent big on candidates in a handful of city-level races across the state this election season, according to campaign finance records. Mayoral and city council candidates from Boston to Worcester have received support from the Massachusetts Majority Independent Expenditure PAC ahead of Tuesday's election.

The MMIE PAC was set up in May, and has bought direct-mail pieces supporting 15 candidates across Massachusetts. The PAC leans Republican, but some Democrats have received support. Campaign finance laws bar PACs from coordinating with individual candidates, so many have reacted with surprise to MMIE's support.

"I have no idea these people are," Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant, a Republican, said when asked about the $14,600 the PAC spent on political mailers supporting him. Vigeant said he thinks the PAC supports candidates who are more "middle-of-the-road" and don't reflect the extremes of either major party.

Some of the state's biggest business leaders are the main donors backing the MMIE PAC. The PAC is chaired by Gregg Liscoiotti, president of Liscoiotti Development Group and a major donor to Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who has received $5,000 from Liscoiotti since 2015. Wayfair Chairman Steven Conine ($50,000), car dealership owner Daniel J. Quirk ($50,000), and Granite Telecommunications CEO Robert Hale ($100,000) are among the biggest donors.

Many of the biggest donors to the MMIE PAC have given to Massachusetts Republican causes, but not exclusively. Wayfair CEO Niraj Shah, for example, has in the past given to Congressman Seth Moulton and congressional candidate Dan Koh, both Democrats — but Shah also gave close to $34,000 to the Republican National Committee in 2018, according to federal records.

The PAC has spent about $267,000 so far on mail advertisements. The direct mail pieces were created by the Pennsylvania firm Red Maverick Media, which has focused on electing Republicans in that state, according to state records.

The PAC's treasurer, Charles Gantt, works for the Beverly-based campaign finance firm Bulldog Compliance. That company is a division of Red Curve Solutions, which has worked for two of the biggest pro-Trump PACs: the Make America Great Again Committee and the Trump Victory Committee.

The PAC's spending has come in two separate waves. Some candidates got support both times, but a few got only one round of support.

Donna Colorio, who led the Worcester Republican City Committee and is running for mayor in 2019, benefited the most from the PAC between the two rounds. Here's how support each of the 15 candidates got received since May.

• Donna Colorio, Worcester mayor candidate — $38,130
• Robert Hedlund Jr., Weymouth mayor — $27,285
• Janet Leombruno, Framingham city council candidate — $24,501
• Shaunna O'Connell, Republican state representative, Taunton mayor candidate — $22,950
• Brian Michael Arrigo, Revere mayor— $21,312
• Heather Porreca, Attleboro mayor candidate — $20,430
• Donald Humason Jr., Republican state senator — $19,893
• Monica Medeiros, Melrose city councilor, mayoral candidate — $15,696
• Arthur Vigeant, Marlborough mayor — $14,601
• Jennifer Nassour, Boston City Council candidate — $13,917
• Domenic Sarno, Springfield mayor — $13,835
• Ken Gray, Amesbury mayor — $12,336
• Mark Hawke, Gardner mayor — $11,070
• Scott Galvin, Woburn mayor — $6,137
• Stephen Louis DiNatale, Fitchburg mayor — $5,336