Patrick raises $1.9m for gala

Governor Deval Patrick raised $1.9 million in private donations to cover the cost of his inauguration, the most expensive in the state's history, mostly from corporations, law firms, developers, and others who do business in the state.

The inaugural committee said it has so far paid $1.07 million in bills covering key inaugural events, including the gala at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the outdoor swearing in, and the regional inaugural celebrations. Organizers are expecting to receive additional bills, but say they will end up with a surplus of at least $300,000, if not substantially more.

"We just don't know what the bills will be," said John Walsh, who ran Patrick's transition team after his election. "It's possible and I hope the number will be higher," he said. A committee will be set up to distribute the surplus to charity.

Any surplus will go to organizations that "foster local civic engagement; advance personal development, especially by empowering youth; and emphasize individual responsibility to the committee," according to a statement. Special consideration will be given to charities with small budgets, less than $3 million.

Among the top donors were auto insurance companies Arbella Insurance Group, Commerce Group, Liberty Mutual Group, and Hanover Insurance Group, which each donated $50,000. The only others who gave $50,000 were The Beal Cos., Comcast, Simon Brand Ventures, and State Street Corp.

Of the top 30 donors, only two were individuals: Paul Egerman, chief executive of eScription Inc., a privately held medical transcription company in Needham, who gave $50,000, and Red Sox team owner John Henry, who gave $25,000. The Red Sox also donated $25,000, as did several banks, big law firms, and pharmaceutical companies, including Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bank of America, Citzens Bank, Fidelity Investments, MassMutual Financial Group, and the firm of Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo.

In all, the inaugural committee raised $1.4 million in cash and about $200,000 in in-kind donations, including $50,000 in shoes each from Keds and Stride Rite. The committee collected more than 15,000 pairs of shoes for Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit agency that gives shoes to needy children.

Another $300,000 was raised through ticket sales to inaugural events.

According to Walsh, more than 35,000 people participated in the inauguration festivities, which stretched over five days and extended across the state. He said he did not know the price tag for each event, except for the outdoor swearing-in ceremony, which cost approximately $100,000.

Critics have assailed politicians for taking corporate donations, saying it gives the impression the donors are buying access and special treatment.

While Patrick campaigned against the "Beacon Hill culture," he appears to have taken more corporate money than his predecessor, Mitt Romney, who raised $1.3 million and spent $750,000 on his inauguration.

"We've had a position for many years that special interests should not be contributing to political events, including inaugurals," said Pamela H. Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts. "It's just another way of gaining access and influence in the administration."

"For us, it's not only a matter of actual influence, but also the appearance thereof," she said. "The public looks at donors who are receiving favorable treatment -- insurance companies, hospitals, developers -- and shake their heads. I think an individual can certainly donate a large amount of money with pure motives. It's much more difficult when a corporation is involved. There has to be something that ties to their bottom line."

Brian Dodge, executive director of the Massachusetts Republican Party, questioned what donors are expecting in return.

"This was, without a doubt, the most lavish inaugural festivities ever in Massachusetts," he said. "A fair question to ask is what did these people believe they were buying. If a company is willing to donate $50,000, what do they think they're getting for their money. And what were the Patrick people selling."

When Romney took office, he paid with private donations for the inaugural gala, his swearing-in, and a breakfast and luncheon.

He placed a $25,000 cap on donations and banned contributions from tobacco and gaming interests. He pledged to give the surplus to charity.

Patrick brushed off suggestions that special interest groups were cozying up to the new administration hoping for favors later on.

"What we asked people to do, companies and individuals, is make an inauguration that regular people and people all over the Commonwealth could participate in," he said in response to a reporter's question. "That's what we did, and I'm grateful for that. We had a wonderful and uplifting series of celebrations. And, judging from the crowds in all the places we went, I think people were really grateful that we brought the inauguration to them."

Patrick said he had no problem accepting money from auto insurance companies whose business could be greatly affected by any action Patrick takes to reform the state's highly regulated industry

"Well, it's not going to affect me, if that's the question you're asking," he said. "We have reasons to try to bring in a reasonable amount of competition to auto insurance in particular.

"I don't think the system we have is one we ought to blow up and start over," Patrick said. "But I am committed to bringing as fair and as cost-effective an auto insurance regime to the state as possible."