Turnpike board member Mary Connaughton jumps in:
Republican Mary Connaughton, who often challenged Mass. Turnpike officials during her tenure on the board of that authority, will run for state auditor in 2010, she told the News Service late Wednesday…. “My goal is to facilitate transparency for all agencies throughout the state,” Connaughton said. “I believe that government is for the people and not for government. I want to get the message out as to how money is being spent so people understand where the tax dollars and fees are going.”
What I know of Mary Connaughton, I like. She asks tough questions that people don’t want to answer, and generally makes a nuisance out of herself. Plus, she has been known to appear on BMG. Excellent qualifications for Auditor, wouldn’t you say? This could turn into a terrific race.
but the good news is she’ll force DeNucci to modernize, co-opt transparency, and work a little.
What do you think?
I don’t know or much care what DeNucci says about abortion, illegal immigration, or other hot-button issues. On the issues that matter to the auditor, the conservative position is to let government wallow in waste to prove it doesn’t work; the progressive position is to make government work better.
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p>On that score, DeNucci hasn’t done much to uphold progressive values.
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p>One comment, 32 months ago — February 2007. Must have made an impression!
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Might actually vote for a Republican. Would be a first for me. I was considering voting for Tom Campbell when he was challenging DiFi for CA Senate back in 2000, but ended up voting Green. (Campbell’s last minute attack that Feinstein was “in the pocket” of the Chinese because her husband had business interests there was the decisive factor.)
But can she box? or at least wrestle?
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p>I thought boxing skills were required for State Auditor.
Mary is a straight shooter, honest as the day is long, a CPA and instructor in Accounting, and refuses to be quiet. She would be the best thing ever to happen to the Democrats who wish that the boyos on Beacon Hill would embrace reform, spend money wisely and help people truly in need. The boyos? Well, frankly, they’d hate her.
…but, that doesn’t qualify me either.
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p>What does qualify me, though, is a proven record keeping an eye out for the public, my past experience as a CPA and a drive for public service. One of my fellow board members recently told me I “set a new standard for engagement” on the board. I intend to do the same as state auditor.
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p>More to come in the weeks ahead.
but then doesn’t vote for them known full well that they board will pass the hikes. True champion of the people? Or CYA to the people?
Or is that a PURPLE Mass Group kiss of death….
… but not particularly newsworthy. If Porcupine endorses a liberal Democrat, or one of our more liberal posters endorses Connaughton, that would be news.
I don’t know anything about Mary Connaughton, but auditor is an office where it makes sense to split your ticket.
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p>An auditor who is from a different party from the governor and legislature should have a stronger incentive to dig out waste, mismanagement, and corruption. There’s not much room for ideology.
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p>In states dominated by Republicans, it would be a good idea to elect a Democratic auditor. In Massachusetts, a competent Republican auditor would be good.
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p>I wouldn’t want a Republican in any higher statewide office, at least no Republican who is conservative enough that the state party would be willing to nominate her. Does Ms. Connaughton have ambitions of running for Governor someday?
As a State Representative (from Newton and Waltham) Joe DeNucci was known as a fighter (pun intended) for funding social services. As State Auditor he held the Weld-Cellucci Administration’s feet to the fire and exposed their privatization scam at the MBTA – protecting public transportation services particularily on less profitable but vital routes in low income neighborhoods.
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p>But Joe DeNucci has served in elective office for a number of years, just like Tom Menino, so I fully expect to see anti-DeNucci posts simply because he has chosen public service as a career. Damn those long servicing officials elected by the voters.
Thanks for sharing view. As a relatively new Massachusettsan, (I’ve been here 5 years,) I don’t have any memory of things that happened in the Weld-Cellucci administration, making it somewhat natural to think of all our long time state and county officials as entrenched hacks, undeserving of their posts, so this sort of information from folks who have been politically active for a long time is helpful.
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p>On the other hand, we shouldn’t reelect an official indefinitely just because he was a good guy 10 or 15 years ago. Politicians do get entrenched, especially if they don’t have competitive reelection campaigns, and sometimes forget why they went into public service in the first place. If you or others here could share what the current issues issues facing the Auditor’s office are and what DeNucci has done to tackle them, that would be much appreciated.
Slightly adapted….
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p>It’s why I enjoy people like Mark Montigny, Jen Callahan, even Christy Mihos. Some people call them gadflys. I think they provide a valuable public service, especially when its done out of earnest. They keep people on their toes. They bring up issues that should be addressed.
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p>So I’ve definately enjoyed Mary Connaughton on the Turnpike board.
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p>I don’t think Joe DeNucci has done a horrible job. I think he has taken the job serious, and not let politics get in the way. (Then again, maybe he’s helped cover up some glaring problems by NOT aquditing them. There’s no way of knowing.)
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p>Either way, as a previous poster said, I’m definately listening, Mary.
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p>Either the Big Dig was error-free, or DeNucci didn’t do his job. I know where I’d put my money…
I heard the auditor was not running for re-election.
That would be very big news, but this is the first I’ve heard of it.