Opponents of Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo have apparently had “enough” of his tenure in local politics.
Adversaries created an independent spending group Monday in an effort to boot Arroyo off the City Council during local elections this fall and fund opposition campaigns ahead of a preliminary election next month, according to state filings.
The “Enough is Enough” independent expenditure political action committee was filed with the state’s campaign finance office by the Chick Montana Group, a campaign finance shop in Massachusetts that has worked with many top Democrats in the state.
The company’s head, Gemma Martin, was listed as the chair of the PAC, according to documents filed with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. But exactly who is involved with the PAC and what they intend to do remains shrouded in mystery.
Martin did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
It was unclear if the PAC had any initial funding. PACs report their finances on a monthly basis with the state’s campaign finance office and more details could emerge when August records are filed.
Arroyo’s campaign manager, Patrick Keaney, said the city councilor is looking to run a “clean campaign” focused “on the issues and [Arroyo’s] record of accomplishments for the residents of district five.”
“We are confident voters will reject dirty and negative campaigning funded by the dark money behind this Super PAC,” Keaney said in a statement to the Herald. “His opponents should also reject this PAC’s efforts and commit to a positive campaign, focused on the issues, which is what the residents of district five want and deserve.”
Three candidates — Enrique Pepén, Jose Ruiz, and Jean-Claude Sanon — are challenging Arroyo for the district five City Council seat. A preliminary municipal election is scheduled for Sept. 12 and a general election is scheduled for Nov. 7.
Pepén said he is focused on running a “positive grassroots campaign.”
“Our district needs a reliable councilor who is attentive to constituent services and ready to deliver on day one,” he said in a statement to the Herald. “I’m grateful to our many volunteers and supporters across district five who share our vision and are helping us run a successful campaign.”
Ruiz and Sanon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Even though independent expenditure PACs are created to support or oppose specific candidates, they are barred from directly coordinating with any individual candidates or their committees.
Arroyo has found himself at the center of multiple controversies this year, most notably a high profile series of events in which former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins was accused of colluding with Arroyo to influence the race for Suffolk County district attorney.
Arroyo, an unsuccessful candidate in that race, denied any wrongdoing.
A city attorney filed an internal complaint in April against three city councilors, including Arroyo, accusing them of making her feel “intimidated, ridiculed, harassed, and bullied” after she provided advice on redistricting earlier this year. Arroyo dismissed the claims as “baseless.”
And Arroyo admitted he violated the state’s conflict of interest law by continuing to represent his brother in a 2018 lawsuit after he was first elected to the council in 2019. He paid a $3,000 fine to settle the matter.
A lawyer for Arroyo said nothing he did as an attorney on the lawsuit “negatively impacted the city or its interests, Arroyo’s client and the city are co-defendants, nor did the City ever express any concern to Councilor Arroyo about his legal representation.”