Governor Charlie Baker last month accepted $2,500 from the firm of a registered lobbyist and longtime ally of Vice President Mike Pence toward his inaugural celebration in January, violating a self-imposed cap intended to limit lobbyists to a fraction of that amount.
Baker advisers say they’re now returning most of the contribution from A10 Associates, a Boston-based firm run by Jess Tocco. It was part of an initial wave of nearly $240,000 in donations that Baker’s inaugural committee raked in from developers, insurers, and other deep-pocketed individuals in the weeks after his reelection victory, campaign finance records show.
A10 Associates made the contribution on Nov. 27, the same day it’s listed as registering with the state as a lobbyist for Vineyard Wind — the joint venture that won a massive offshore wind contract in May. Tocco, the firm’s president and CEO, is the lone lobbyist listed for A10 Associates in state records.
