Legal professional Normal-elect Andrea Campbell is taking a slippery first step because the state’s high legislation enforcement official, accepting tens of 1000’s of company {dollars} to fund her inaugural bash.
Campbell, who promised to be a reformer, will likely be hobnobbing with main donors her workplace will regulate, probably compromising her highly effective place.
The “historic” social gathering is ready for Jan. 18, simply after she takes workplace. The inaugural committee is led by Maggie Di Pesa, who served as Campbell’s finance chair through the marketing campaign.
What Campbell and her donors are doing is completely authorized however the onus is on her to protect her credibility. A Campbell spokeswoman instructed the Herald the brand new AG is limiting donations to a most of $10,000 from corporations, people, attorneys and probably lobbyists who need to curry favor together with her workplace. She might increase limitless quantities if she needed, below state legislation.
To this point, she has raised $20,000, although that’s only the start of her fundraising efforts. Donors embody two attorneys and a building agency, Mackay Development Providers of Wilmington, in response to marketing campaign finance data.
Mackay’s building purchasers embody MassDOT, Massport, the MBTA, the Division of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Fish and Sport, the MWRA and the town of Boston, in response to the corporate’s web site.
The AG’s workplace oversees all companies, client affairs, worker rights, state police and non-profits – making her the second strongest elected official within the state. Some would say the AG has much more energy than the governor.
Campbell is making historical past by turning into the primary Black girl to function legal professional common. So you possibly can’t blame her for desirous to have fun her achievement.
However she is meant to be the individuals’s lawyer, not the lobbyists’ lawyer. It smacks of a possible moral breach to be taking such giant chunks of cash from those self same companies you regulate simply to fund an inaugural social gathering.
Not like marketing campaign committees, inaugural committees can settle for limitless donations from companies, making them extra open to potential abuse.
Gov.-elect Maury Healey, taking cues from previous governors, can also be taking contributions of as much as $25,000 to fund her lavish inaugural ball.
However an AG is meant to stay above the political fray. She’s now within the legislation enforcement world, not only a former Boston metropolis councilor.
If she’s keen to provide the looks that individuals pays for entry, it’s not a superb begin. All to fund a celebration.
Campbell, with little legislation enforcement expertise, cruised to election by mainly flying below the radar, agreeing to just one debate together with her GOP opponent, and hanging on to Maura Healey’s coattails.
Contemplating her lack of courtroom expertise, she ought to in all probability focus extra on her upcoming job than planning a celebration.
