Sutton’s Esler Found to Have Exceeded Campaign Contributions
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Saturday, January 17, 2015
Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor
In November,
GoLocal Worcester reported that John Esler of Sutton, owner of Renewal by Anderson, a window company in Northborough, gave $5,000 to Sutton REPTC last February and another $5,000 to the Republican State Committee in October.
In light of the GoLocal Worcester story, the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) investigated Esler's contributions and deemed that he was, in fact, in violation of campaign contributions in excess of $5,000.
As GoLocal reported, OCPF's Local Political Party Guide states that an individual can contribute a maximum of $5,000 per year combined total to either State or Local Party Committees.
An OCPF representative said "There was once excess contribution we discovered and that's being refunded by the Republican State Committee. So the Sutton Republican Town Committee contribution stands, but the subsequent contribution to the Republican State Committee has been requested to be refunded."
Esler was the Sutton REPTC’s Treasurer in 2013. He now serves as a Director for the Mass Fiscal Alliance.
While REPTC Treasurer, Esler’s family contributed $30,000 to the Committee, which was more than double the amount of the committee’s expenditures. $20,000 of that contribution came from members of the Esler family living outside of the state.
Over the course of five years (2008-2012) the REPTC had a receipt total of $42,132.29. In 2013 alone, the only year Esler was Treasurer, the receipt total was $57,000.
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