"The Invite Mix-up: What Happened? "

Last week, an invitation for a fundraising event caused quite a stir. The event, "South Boston for Mayor Michelle Wu," was set to take place at Amrheins restaurant on West Broadway from 5:30 p. m. to 7:00 p. m. on Wednesday. It listed Gregory Lally as part of the host committee. But here's where things get interesting: Lally is an athletic director for the Boston Center for Youth and Families, and according to city records, he earned nearly $58,000 in 2023. So, what's the big deal? Well, public employees aren't allowed to collect or receive political funds, either directly or indirectly. A spokesperson for Mayor Wu's campaign, Julia Leja, clarified that Lally wasn't actually part of the host committee; it was just a mistake on an earlier draft of the invitation. The corrected list includes names like Clerk Mike Donovan, Angel Feng, and several others. Jason Tait, who works with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, explained the rules. Public employees can't host fundraisers or be involved in political money-raising activities. The event asked supporters for donations, up to the legal limit of $1,000 per individual per year. This mix-up serves as a reminder about the strict rules around campaign finance.