Mayoral Campaign Spending Tops $150,000; Majority of Spicer Donations Come From Outside Framingham

FRAMINGHAM – Although the City of Framingham mayoral candidates have not filed their October reports with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign & Political Finance (OCPF), based on reports filed through September 30, the amount spent to become Mayor will top $150,000.

Through September 30 report, Mayor Yvonne Spicer has raised almost $77,000, but the incumbent had $27.422.97 in the bank to start 2021.

Former City Councilor Charlie Sisistsky, who announced his mayoral campaign in May, has raised more than $68,500 through September 30.

Sisitsky won the 3-way preliminary election for Mayor with more than 4,400 votes.

Spicer came in second to be on the November ballot but received less than 2,000 votes.

Voters will decide between the two candidate son Tuesday, November 2. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Besides electing a Mayor for 4 years, voters will also elect 9 District City Councilors, 9 School Committee members, 6 Library Trustees, and 3 Cemetery Trustees.

Pulling data in the OCPF system, submitted by beyond the September 30 reports, more than 200 contributors came from the City of Framingham for Sisitsky, but less than 120 contributors came from the City of Framingham for Spicer.

“The Sisitsky Committee has raised $85K from 315 donors ($52K from 231 Framingham
donors; i.e., 61% of our total money raised and 73% of our donors are from
Framingham),” said the Sisistsky campaign when contacted by SOURCE.

The majority of Mayor Spicer’s fundraising has come from outside the City of Framingham.

“The contributions to my campaign reflect the change in our government from a town to a city. An effective Mayor builds strong relationships across the city, the state, the region, and the country in order to get the best results for our city. This results in increased interest in Framingham way beyond city lines, resulting in investment in our community. It also broadens the pool of resources for financing a campaign,” said the Spicer campiagn when contact by SOURCE.

“Charlie Sisitsky’s mayoral campaign has gained the right momentum at just the right time. Hundreds of individuals; including residents, community stakeholders and significant unions that operate within and outside of the Framingham community have donated to his campaign, highlighting the local, grassroots support which the Sisitsky Committee has garnered during this race,” said the Sisitsky Campaign in its email to SOURCE for a statement.

“Our message is resonating, and overall, our financial report tells the same story seen in the results of last month’s City Preliminary Election: Charlie is well on the path to becoming the next Mayor of Framingham. Despite entering the race with less funds than the incumbent, Charlie’s coalition significantly outraised his opponent in the first two months of his campaign, raising over $41K between May and June of 2021,” said the Sisitsky campaign. “Campaigns are expensive. Mailers, signs and ads cost money, and we have been working diligently to make the most out of every contribution. The donations Charlie’s coalition received throughout the entire campaign have reflected our community’s trust in Charlie’s candidacy as the most qualified person to focus on issues surrounding Education, Environment, Seniors, Pandemic Recovery, Better Government/Civic Engagement, and the future of Framingham.”

“I have run an honorable campaign and not taken any Republican-led super PAC money. I am very proud of the broad-based support my campaign has received and humbly ask for your vote on November 2nd.,” said the Spicer campaign in its statement.

A political action committee (PAC) called the Massachusetts Majority PAC tied to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, who is a Republican, raised money for several Mayors and mayoral challengers including Sisitsky.

The PAC supported both Republican and Democratic candidates, including Everett Mayor Carlo Demaria, Robert Sullivan running for Brockton Mayor, and Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, who ironically has endorsed Spicer for Framingham Mayor. LaChapelle is a former treasurer with the Massachusetts Republican Party.

Sisitsky, a life-long Democrat, did not have contact with the PAC, as the law forbids that. He did not know the PAC was supporting his candidacy until the filing by the PAC and news reports.

The PAC did a mailing for Sisitsky and said it spent $19,419 to support that mayoral campaign.

City of Framingham election are nonpartisan, which means candidates party-affiliations do not appear on the ballot.

Sisitsky’s campaign said in a statement to SOURCE.

“The incumbent’s desperate last-minute effort at fear-mongering and misrepresenting that our campaign had anything to do with the entity in question is not surprising from someone who is unable to run on her own record because it so abysmal. To suggest this campaign was orchestrated by Republicans when it has been endorsed and supported and in no small part led by stalwart lifelong Democrats like Representative Jack Lewis, Representative Maria Robinson, City Council Chair George King, and School Committee Chair Adam Freudburg, is laughable. Charlie himself is a lifelong Democrat who has an enviable record of supporting women candidates including Deb Goldberg, Shannon O’Brien, Martha Coakley, Maura Healey, Katherine Clark and Karen Spilka to name a few. Once again the incumbent ignores facts that don’t support her woefully false and fraudulent narrative,” said the Sisitsky Campaign.

“Each member of Charlie’s coalition would like to express our deepest gratitude for having the financial support of so many folks from Framingham. So many members of our community who live here, pay taxes here or send their kids to school here clearly recognize what’s at stake in this election. The fact that they are willing to contribute financially to our campaign is really inspiring and humbling. We appreciate and rely on their continuing support,” said the Sisitsky campaign.

Mayor Spicer has 31 donors who gave her a donation of $1,000 – the maximum allowed, but some donors split up their contributions like former City of Framingham Chief Financial Officer Mary Ellen Kelley, who retired in June.

In July 2021, after her retirement, she became the Mayor’s campaign treasurer.

She made three donations, which totalled $1,000. Kelley lives in Ashland.

Among the $1,000 donors, are just 4 Framingham residents.

Former senior advisor to the Mayor Nadia Ullman, downtown property owner Vaios Theodorakos, David Cohen of Indian Head Road, and Kathleen Herrman of Ditullio Drive each made a $1,000 donation to the Mayor’s re-election campaign.

Theodorakos donation came just a month after the property owner complained about the crime in downtown Framingham and how no one in the City was addressing it.

Sisitsky had 29 donation of $1,000 to his campaign, of which 14 had Framingham addresses.

Among the individuals who donated $1,000 and live in Framingham were District 6 City Councilor Phil Ottaviani Jr, who hosted a fundraiser at his home for the mayoral candidates, District 3 School Committee candidate Jenn Moshe, Robin Kaye, the candidate’s wife, Christopher Connolly, of Connolly Auto Group, and City Council Chair George P. King Jr.

Several other Framingham business owners donated to the Sisitsky campaign $1,000 including Andrew Rose, who owns Nobscot Plaza, Joseph Zhang, who owns Samba Steak & Sushi, the President & COO of Cumberland Farms Ari Haseotes, Brendon Giblin of Giblin Properties, John Parsons of the Parson Commercial Group, David Capobianco COO of Atlantic Management, and Doug Stephan who owns Eastleigh Farm.

District 2 City Councilor Cesar Stewart-Morales donated $125 to the re-election campaign for Mayor Spicer. Stewart-Morales and District 9 City Councilor Tracey Bryant, who are facing challenges to their own City Council seat, are both endorsing Spicer.

At-large City Councilor Janet Leombruno donated $250 to the Sisitsky campaign.