Quincy Mayor Faces Legal Trouble and Public Backlash

The mayor of Quincy, Massachusetts, Thomas Koch, is in hot water again.

This time, it's because he accepted illegal campaign donations. State regulators found that Koch's campaign took money from corporations and anonymous donors, which is against the law.

Settlement and Promises

To settle the issue, Koch's campaign paid $55,000. Out of this amount:

• $15,000 went directly to the state
• $40,000 was donated to two local nonprofits

The campaign also promised to:

• Improve its accounting procedures
• Educate the community about campaign finance laws

The Investigation

The state's investigation revealed:

• Koch's campaign received over $7,700 from businesses, which is not allowed
• They accepted more than $3,000 through PayPal from anonymous donors
• Some individuals were reimbursed by others for their donations, a practice known as "straw donors"

Koch's Response

Koch claims he was unaware of these illegal donations. He stated that his campaign follows the guidelines and appreciates the state's help.

Previous Controversies

This is not the first time Koch has faced controversy:

• Just last week, he proposed reducing his upcoming salary increase after public outrage. The original increase would have made him the highest-paid mayor in Massachusetts.
• Koch has also faced backlash for controversial remarks about the LGBTQ+ community and the Catholic Church sex scandal.
• Recently, Quincy residents voted out several City Council incumbents, which some see as a reflection of the public's dissatisfaction with Koch's leadership.