By Katie Curley
SALISBURY BEACH — When the newly revamped Salisbury Beach Pavilion held its ribbon-cutting last week, the guest of honor wasn't the type of government official who would normally show up in this region for the ceremonial opening of a private business.
Usually that honor is reserved for a local mayor or selectman, but this event drew one of state government's highest-elected officials, Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, as well as state Rep. Mike Costello, who helped arrange for the event.
Murray, Costello and others praised the Pavilion's owner, Wayne Capolupo, for pumping millions of dollars into the beach to revitalize it during a down economy. But while fueling economic development in the region, the Capolupo family has also been doing something for years that sets them apart from other local businesses.
Over the past seven years, campaign finance reports indicate they have donated over $78,000 to state political candidates and political organizations, including $5,750 to Costello and $1,500 to Murray. Since 1998, another $82,000 was donated to federal political candidates and organizations.
Such donations are perfectly legal under state law, said Pam Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause, a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest.
But Common Cause questions whether donations also pave the way for access to and attention from elected officials, and thinks the political donation system needs to be changed.
"It is fairly common for business interests to donate to political campaigns as a way of creating relationships and gaining access to decision-makers," Wilmot said. "It doesn't necessarily mean they get favorable treatment, but frankly, as you look at the agendas across the nation, donors have done fairly well."
The festivities on June 29 kicked off with a fundraiser for Murray held by fellow Democrat Costello at Capri Restaurant, which is owned by Capolupo. The group then made their way to the new Department of Conservation and Recreation sign in Salisbury Beach Center, where Costello's staff asked a photo be taken by The Daily News. The final stop was the Pavilion for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and another photo.
Wayne Capolupo, who has given the most money of the seven Capolupo family members whose names frequently appear on political contribution reports, said he never expects politicians to help his causes, but said the relationships are critical in all aspects of the beach's revitalization.
"I keep in close contact with Costello, (Sen. Steven) Baddour and Murray, and they have been very receptive to working with us," Capolupo said, noting Murray has made visits to Salisbury several times during his term in office. "I appreciate them for seeing how important revitalization is to this corner of Massachusetts."
Costello made a statement through his Chief of Staff Adam Martingnetti, saying in no way does money buy access or set one constituent apart from another.
"Wayne's access stems from his civil involvement, especially with Salisbury Beach. He has made significant personal investments down there," Martignetti said, noting Wayne Capolupo's involvement with the Salisbury Beach Betterment Association. "He has worked for a number of years to improve Salisbury Beach. His access to politicians is no different than (Selectman) Jerry Klima's access or (beach property owners) Lou Masiello's or Don Abdulla's."
"Both Rep. Costello and Sen. Baddour have made a pretty explicit commitment to improve the beach, whether it be the new assessment put on campers or the boardwalk, it's been a clear priority for the Legislature. That's where the access stems from. If you asked around, I hope any of Mike's constituents would say they have the same access to him."
Since 2002, the Abdulla family has donated $4,000 to Costello and $400 to Baddour, Salisbury Selectman Jerry Klima has donated $400 to Costello and $200 to Baddour, and the Masiellos have donated $75 to Costello.
Donations
Electronic records kept by the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance covering the period 2002 to 2008 indicate members of the Capolupo family have donated over $78,000 to state politicians, including over $19,000 to the state Republican Committee.
For instance, they gave $6,250 to Costello's campaign in $250 and $500 increments since 2003, $1,500 to Murray in the last year and $8,600 to Baddour, D-Methuen, since 2002, according to campaign finance reports. Baddour represents Salisbury at the Statehouse.
State law limits donations to candidates to no more than $500 per person per year, and often the Capolupos gave the maximum amount.
A look into the Capolupo donations over recent years show their donations are nonpartisan. They donated $1,000 to former Speaker of the House Sal Dimasi's Committee for a Democratic House in 2007, while prior contributions netted over $19,000 for the Republican State Committee and nearly $5,000 donated to Mitt Romney between 2002 and 2005. Over $2,000 was donated to then Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey.
When Newburyport Republican Erford Fowler ran against Costello in 2004, Wayne Capolupo donated to both candidates.
Even more substantial are the donations to federal candidates. The family has donated $82,000 to federal candidates — over $20,000 of that donated money went toward George W. Bush's coffers, $4,600 went to John McCain in the last presidential race, $12,800 went to Democrat Marty Meehan and $39,500 went to the state's Republican Congressional Committee. Notably absent from the campaign finance contributions is local Congressman John Tierney and Sens. John Kerry and Ted Kennedy.
Wilmot said the issue of political donations is concerning, and her organization is currently pushing for public financing of elections to remove donations like the Capolupos' from politics.
"It is certainly legal and common, but at the same time it is something we can change," Wilmot said. "We have to take money out of politics. Money shouldn't determine who can run for office or who gets into office. The question of money should not be injected into government decision-making."
While private donations are how things get done in the state, Wilmot's organization is questioning whether it is the best way of doing business, she said.
Partnerships
At the event June 29, Murray, as well as Costello, stressed the importance of private sector/public sector relationships in order to get projects like Capolupo's completed and bring state money into the beach for items such as the new sign.
"We have 1,500 miles of coastline," Murray remarked. "One of my responsibilities as lieutenant governor is to chair the Seaport Advisory Council, and one of the prime responsibilities are the ports — Salem, Gloucester, Fall River, New Bedford and Boston. But we also hope to assist Salisbury Beach in revitalization."
Murray said having people like Capolupo who are able to spend millions of dollars to help in a revitalization project strengthens the public/private partnerships in state government.
"The government can't do it all," Murray said. "When people invest in the state, the private sector investment can help attract people and lead to investment from the state."
Wayne Capolupo is co-owner of family-run SPS New England, which specializes in bridge repair and rehabilitation throughout the state and has handled many multimillion-dollar projects — like the $44 million Interstate 495 interchange on Marston Street in Lawrence.
The Capolupos are among the biggest landowners and developers in Greater Newburyport. They own a substantial share of beachfront property in Salisbury, they proposed a housing complex off Route 110 in Amesbury, and Wayne Capolupo owns a large riverfront farm in Newburyport.
They've also lent significant support to community efforts over the years, like the Salisbury Town Hall Rehabilitation Committee and the emergency repair of the railroad dike over Town Creek that flooded Bridge Road when it crumbled during the Patriots Day storm two years ago. Wayne Capolupo is a primary organizer of Salisbury's two major summer events, the Sand and Sea Festival and the Maritime Festival. Both are aimed at restoring Salisbury Beach as a summertime destination.
Costello said it is people like Wayne Capolupo who make sure projects get done.
"He gave $2 million for the boardwalk and has revitalized the Pavilion. It is much easier for us to sell it to our colleagues (on Beacon Hill) when we show them what is being done privately. Salisbury is really the gateway to Massachusetts."
Capolupo said his vision of Salisbury Beach is a place that is active year-round and attracts people as a destination for entertainment and fun. With interest from the Thompson Group — the redevelopment experts behind the revival of Quincy Market — he said he plans to keep in close contact with the company in order to ensure his projects blend with the Thompson Group's vision.
"Wayne Capolupo has put his confidence in Salisbury and the public/private partnership and is creating jobs and a wider tax base," Murray said. "The Pavilion is a symbol of a bygone era now transformed. It takes my breath away."
Costello said the revitalization of the beach has been a collaborative effort between Capolupo and the state, one which will continue into future projects.
"Wayne has invested tons of money with other owners on the beach and bolstered the private investment at a time no one is investing," Costello said. "With state funding, we can parlay it into a collaboration with the Salisbury Beach Betterment Association, and a four- to five-year effort is now bearing fruit."
Capolupos' state-level donations
Sen. Steven Baddour — $8,600
Rep. Mike Costello — $5,750
Sen. Bruce Tarr — $3,100
Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray — $1,500
Rep. Harriett Stanley — $350
State Republican Committee — $19,065
Sheriff Frank G. Cousins — $3,750
MBTA Director Daniel Grabauskas — $3,150
District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett — $2,500
Former Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly — $1,510
State Treasurer Timothy Cahill — $1,350
Rep. Michael E. Festa, D-Taunton — $650
Attorney General Martha Coakley — $1,000
Reed Hillman, R-Sturbridge — $2,800
Sen. James Eldridge D-Acton — $1,000
Rep. Jennifer Flanagan D-Worcester — $250
Rep. William Lantigua D-Lawrence — $750
Capolupos' federal donations
George W. Bush — $20,200
Former Congressman Marty Meehan — $12,800
John McCain — $4,600
Congressman Jim McGovern — $500
Congressman Michael Capuano — $500
Lowell City Councilor Eileen Donoghue — $1,000
Congressman John Walter Olver — $500
