Valley Patriot

Minor Oddities in Parolisi Finance Report

Amount Raised >10,473.00
Amount Spent >- $7,528.74
>>>>Balance - $2,944.26

Campaign finance reports filed by Joe Parolisi, (At Large City Council Candidate) the second highest fund raiser in the city, show that he raised $10, 473.00 the bulk of which >(($7,633.00 according to the report) >(was raised by taking donations under $50.00.   This would mean that over 155 people made donations of $49.00 or less. Not exactly impossible considering Parolisi's lifetime of contacts and his number of years working for the City of Lawrence.

Campaign finance laws only require candidates to declare the names and full addresses as well as occupations of those donating more than $50.00 in a given year.  

Parolisi did not comply with Massachusetts General Law (ch. 55) which "requires that the name and residential address be reported…for all receipts over $50.00."  

All of the donors listed on Pariolisi's report include a city or town for each donor but no actual address and only three donors occupations were listed. Also, at least three donors were listed at a business address or a P.O. Box.  

Donation List as Submitted by Joe Parolisi

Notwithstanding the oddities mentioned above, Parolisi raised about half of his campaign finances from Lawrence residents (or family members) and spent the bulk of his expenditures $5,294.72 (of the $7,528.74 raised) at businesses located in the City of Lawrence. The bulk of his out of town purchases (but in state) were to WCCM and the Eagle Tribune.

He made only three out of state purchases:  

BJ's Wholesale, Salem NH         - 44.52
Party Central Salem NH             -70.87
Votes Unlimited, Ferndale NY. >- 380.16
For a total of.....................................$495.55  

As mentioned previously, Massachusetts General Law requires candidates to pay state taxes on all out of state purchases.   No such tax payment item appears on Parolisi's finance report to date.  

NOTE:   Parolisi is a first time candidate for office and being such, most first time candidates make similar errors in reporting their finances (such as not reporting occupations, etc.).