Cesar Ruiz, a prominent Western Massachusetts businessman, just got an expensive lesson in campaign finance law. His wish to support Hispanic and Latino candidates for office must no longer violate state rules on how money flows to candidates. Cash he planned to give to candidates, $190,000 worth, will instead benefit charities.
Ruiz has every right to seek to lift up and empower Latino candidates. He prides himself as being one of the first Latino elected officials in Massachusetts, when he won a Springfield School Committee seat in 1980.
