Koch Campaign Received Prohibited Campaign Contributions

QUINCY, MA — The state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance says that an Avon-based company reimbursed $9,000 in political donations, including $1,000 to the campaign of Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch.

Brian Bairos, owner of Bairos New England Distribution in Avon, and Ashley Arruda, a bookkeeper for the company, reimbursed donations made by other people as a way to get around the state's corporate and individual campaign donation limit of $1,000, according to the Patriot Ledger.

Bairos will pay $7,500 and Arruda will pay $2,500 in civil forfeitures to the state’s general fund. In addition to the Koch donation, $4,000 went to Attorney General Maura Healey’s campaign and another $4,000 went to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh’s campaign .

The office ruled that all three campaigns had no reason to believe that the funds they received were illegal and will give them to the state, a municipality, charity or scholarship fund by the end of the year, per state law.

Image Credit: Dan Libon