Thomas Riolo Defends Auto Dealer Campaign Contributions Amid Criticisms from Incumbent William Keating-October 12, 1988

State Senate challenger and Norwood Selectman Thomas Riolo is firing back at criticism from incumbent State Sen. William Keating (D-Sharon) regarding campaign donations accepted from several prominent Route 1 automobile dealers.

According to campaign finance filings, Riolo—running as an Independent in the Norfolk-Bristol Senate district—has accepted upwards of $3,000 to $4,000 from local businesses along the “Auto Mile,” even though as a selectman he sits on the municipal board responsible for licensing those very dealerships.

The Contributions and the Controversy

Keating seized on the contributions to challenge Riolo’s framing of his campaign as a grassroots effort.

“He has stereotyped this campaign as David against Goliath,” Keating said in an interview. “That is just not true.”

Among the donations highlighted in filings managed by Riolo’s wife and campaign manager, Janice Riolo, are:

• $1,000 from Edmund H. Gendreau, president of Norwood Hyundai and Norwood Subaru.
• $1,000 from David Speigel, president of Car Mart and the BMW Gallery.
• $600 from Jack Madden, president of Jack Madden Ford and Sales.
• $1,000 from James Shane, owner of the Faded Glory clothing store off Route 1.

The donations carry added local scrutiny because of recent regulatory friction. In June, selectmen ordered Jack Madden and fellow Route 1 dealer Ernie Boch (Boch Toyota) to stop parking cars on West Border Road following neighbor complaints. While Madden complied, Boch continued to contest the order. Furthermore, Route 1 businesses face potential impacts from an upcoming major zoning overhaul tied to Norwood’s soon-to-be-completed Master Plan.

Riolo and Supporters Fire Back

Riolo firmly defended the contributions, asserting that the funds came strictly from longtime personal friends rather than special-interest lobbying.

“There are 28 auto dealers in town,” Riolo noted. “I only took money from a few friends. If I took money from all the auto dealers then that’s a different story.”

Emphasizing his independence, Riolo added, “Nobody’s going to buy Tom Riolo for $1,000. They don’t own me… I only took it from people I know. It was offered and I took it.”

John Reardon, treasurer of Norwood Hyundai who personally donated $500, echoed that sentiment: “I support Tommy because of a longstanding friendship. I don’t think it makes a bit of difference that he is a selectman.”

Riolo dismissed Keating’s attacks as a “smokescreen” designed to deflect debate from substantive issues, turning the spotlight instead toward Keating’s extensive fundraising list. Noting that Keating had raised over $100,000—including roughly $12,000 from more than 50 political action committees (PACs) such as the Chiropractic PAC and the Eastern Massachusetts Bricklayers’ Fund—Janice Riolo remarked, “His PAC groups run endlessly. He’s had a lot of bargaining and owes a lot of people.”

In response, Keating defended his broad-based financial support, arguing that contributions spread across scores of diverse organizations do not pose a conflict of interest, especially since lawmakers do not hold direct regulatory power over PACs in the same manner a local selectman holds over town licenses.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger