Boston's top zoning & licensing lawyers support Tim Schofield

If you want a liquor license or zoning variance you have a good chance of getting what you want if you have a lawyer from the firm of McDermott, Quilty, and Miller.
If you are Tim Schofield raising money for your City Council campaign, apparently you also go to McDermott, Quilty, and Miller.
  • William McDermott - $100 to the Committee to Elect Tim Schofield
  • Dennis Quilty - $200 to the Committee to Elect Tim Schofield
  • Stephen Miller - $200 to the Committee to Elect Tim Schofield
Why do lawyers like them give their hard-earned money to candidates for political office? A 2005 Boston Globe story about campaign contributions and City Council politics interviewed Michael McCormack, a Wellesley resident and contributor of $200 each to Hanlon and Ciommo:
Former councilor Michael McCormack, a lawyer and lobbyist, said people who do business with the city have a good reason for giving. "These are people who have an interest in seeing the city economically strong and sound," he said. "They also want to be in a position to pick up the phone and call someone if they have a problem. Sometimes the operative word is access."

"If you're the head of a significant company that does a significant amount of business in the city you want to know that you can pick up the phone and call the City Council president. Someone will listen and help."
The Schofield campaign did not respond to an email seeking comment on this issue.

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:20 AM

    People give to politicians to get access. If you call a politician the first thing they do is check to see if you have sent them money. The second thing they do is send you a letter for money.
    John Thompson
    Brighton

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  2. Anonymous11:38 AM

    Lawyers have given tons of money to all of the candidates- this is a non-story. It's especially funny that this particular issue is coming up given that Schofield was endorsed by Felix Arroyo, someone who has such a strong reputation for standing up against such interests.

    More importantly, the very lobbyist whom you quote as saying that people give money for access has given $200 donations to Ciommo and Hanlon. Isn't that the real story?

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