The very first post on dumpthefairgrounds was Follow The Money (always good advice), and today we’re following some very different money.

As the public prepares for the April 14, 2025 hearing where the Host Community Agreement (HCA) for the proposed Fairgrounds project will be acknowledged by the Leominster City Council, newly compiled data shows a concerning pattern: a highly coordinated and strategic flow of campaign donations from Baystate Racing affiliates, lobbyists, and development partners to State Senator John Cronin. Presented here is breakdown of that financial influence, its timing, its connections, and the broader implications for Leominster residents. 

WHY SENATOR JOHN CRONIN’S INVOLVEMENT MATTERS 

Senator John J. Cronin represents the Worcester and Middlesex District, which includes Leominster and surrounding towns. Cronin was elected to office in 2021, and quickly rose to prominent legislative roles on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Economic Development & Emerging Technologies Committee, Municipalities & Regional Government Committee, and the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. These appointments give him critical influence over the Commonwealth’s funding, infrastructure, land use, and economic development policy. 

It’s extremely important to realize that local officials cannot approve gaming or racing licenses on capped landfill sites, like the proposed Fairgrounds, without support at the state level. The closed Mechanic Street Municipal Landfill is protected by both a deed restriction and Article 97, which is also called the Open Space Act. Lands protected under Article 97 require a two-thirds vote of the state legislature to change their use. This makes Senator Cronin a key gatekeeper. Additionally, he has already filed legislation (e.g., Senate No. 259 in 2021) to explore expanding the gaming market in Massachusetts, including horse racing facilities. 

Cronin’s support — or quiet facilitation — of projects such as The Fairgrounds would be essential. This is what makes the volume and timing of contributions from Baystate’s lobbyists and developers so troubling. 

Now, let’s follow some money…

In Massachusetts, there are strict limits on the dollar amount that can be officially donated to official campaigns every year: $1000 from an individual, and $200 from a lobbyist. In 2024, Senator John Cronin received almost $6000 in official campaign contributions from Baystate’s affiliates and lobbyists, over three times what they contributed in any of the previous three years.

$4,550 of those dollars were donated on one day: April 16, 2024.

A single day. Multiple donors. One goal: Secure influence. 

Donor Name	Affiliation/Title	Employer/Source	Amount
Richard Fields	Baystate Financier	Private Developer	$1,000
John Stefanini	Baystate Lobbyist	Self	$1,000
Julie Dempsey	Lobbying Manager	Dempsey Insurance	$1,000
Sagi Genger	Baystate Principal	Sai Consulting LLC	$1,000
Beth Card	Policy Advisor	Smith Costello & Crawford	$200
Sira Grant	Lawyer	Smith Costello & Crawford	$200
Daniel Napolitano	Gov’t Affairs	Smith Costello & Crawford	$150
TOTAL			$4,550

This volume and clustering of contributions on a single day suggests a coordinated bundling event, potentially tied to a key meeting or greenlight moment within Baystate’s legislative strategy. This, combined with lobbyist donations nearly triple that of previous years, coincides with:

• Baystate’s formalization of lobbying hires–in 2024, they spent $360,000 on lobbyists 
• Increased legislative pressure for Host Community Agreement acknowledgment 
• Quiet preparations for land use and permitting expansions 

These patterns are not speculative—they are documented through state OCPF filings and public lobbying disclosures. 

But what does it all mean? 

It means Baystate thinks Leominster is a city of suckers. 

In one day, over $4,500 was officially donated to Senator Cronin’s campaign by Baystate’s lobbyists and developers. Money goes a long way in government –that’s what lobbyists do, after all– but such a brazen, artless buy-out shows incredible arrogance in their position. 

It says that when you have money, you can do anything you want. 

• You can try to buy a Senator… or maybe more than one. You could probably buy as many elected officials as you needed to get what you want. 
• You can pay cash for an artificial “grassroots” campaign that’s meant to sidestep community consent and fake support for your unpopular projects.
• You can sell city officials a pre-packaged agreement, backed by coordinated donors, and push it through with little planning and minimal transparency. 
• You can bet it all on the fact that the residents of Leominster will accept your proposal as quietly as sheep on the landfill–but that, as it turns out, would be the real sucker bet.  

The residents of Leominster are not blind to the machinations of lobbyists, rich developers, and elected officials. They are not simple, naive, or easily fooled. The residents of Leominster deserve and demand a transparent process, to have their voices heard, and to refuse a proposal that developers already consider bought and paid for. 

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