Debate: State Auditor (DiZoglio v. Dempsey)
Is an open race for State Auditor a “once-in-a-generation” occurrence? The Boston Globe thinks so. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, if you look at the historical record. But the Editorial Board is right on the money in suggesting that the potential of the office is often overlooked.
That’s a shame. The State Auditor keeps an eye on the use of public money. The office helps maintain a standard of transparency that informs voters and helps keep the public in the driver’s seat with respect to how the government spends its money.
On Wednesday, 3 August the two Democratic candidates for State Auditor, Diana DiZoglio and Chris Dempsey, met to debate live on WBUR.
Hump Day News provides a loose outline, with timecodes, of the back-and-forth. The questions (Qs) noted in the transcript are highlights, not an exhaustive record. The candidate’s responses are paraphrases, not quotes, with a little editorial spin. Watch the debate yourself, make up your own mind, and vote in the primary.
It’s no surprise that the topic of transparency comes up early (Q1, 4:45) in a debate for State Auditor. It’s a central feature of what’s required for the office. The Boston Globe and other media outlets made some hay with the fact that Dempsey released the full copy of answers to advocacy group-sponsored candidate questionnaires, as part of his “transparency pledge,” before his opponent.
The questionnaires can lead to endorsements, and failing to disclose answers can keep voters in the dark about what promises a candidate might have made to this or that group to earn its endorsement.
As of 8/19, DiZoglio has released all the questionnaires that the Globe cited as outstanding, except for the one related to the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. If the Boston Globe wants to endorse Dempsey in the State Auditor race – and it does – transparency about answers to questionnaires is no longer the compelling difference-maker between candidates that the 8/19 Boston Globe endorsement suggests.
Final thought: the DiZoglio campaign needs to fix the post-url on its “Questionnaires” page, which still reads “copy-of-diana-on-climate.” Pro tips!
WBUR Debate: Diana DiZoglio (DD), Chris Dempsey (CD)
Opening
DD: wants accountability; born to single mom, scrappy, values how tax $$$ is spent in MA;
CD: local kid, son of public school teachers endorsed by Bump;
Q1, 4:45, what do accountability & transparency look like to you and how would you make them happen in office?
DD, kill taxpayer-funded NDAs (says CD voted for them)
CD, co-founded Open Data program & No Boston Olympics; reform state police;
Q2, 7:30, to CD, isn’t reforms versus public corruption out of auditor’s purview (AG stuff, for example)?
9:00, CD seems stuck on No Boston Olympics
Q3, 10:00, to DD, why is auditor a good avenue to fight for social justice?
12:45, CD dings DD on progressive rhetoric not matching record
Q4, 13:15, what has Bump done well that you would continue?
Q5, 14:30, is Amore correct that the auditor’s office needs an independent review?
Q6, 17:30, is Amore’s approach to tax refund correct?
Q7, 21:15, as auditor, is shutting a bunch of transit lines down all at once the best way to address MBTA problems?
CD, DD: no
[some back and forth about whether to safety audit MBTA; DD is fired up; CD wants a plan for the audit along with a call for the audit — in other words, CD is charging DD with empty talk]
26:30, Dumb questions interlude
Boston sports Mt. Rushmore?
Iced or hot coffee?
Talk to strangers on T?
Closing
CD: lives in 1st floor of triple decker 2 blocks from where he grew up; transparency; repeats No Boston Olympics;
DD: taken on the Beacon Hill establishment; accountability & equity;
Analysis and results of the races that Hump Day News has been tracking in the 2022 MA elections.
Get on a nickname basis with the Republican candidate for Governor’s Council District 4.
Political novice Rayla Campbell (R) faces a tough challenge to unseat incumbent with long tenure.
How should you vote on the ballot questions this November? HDN provides a round up and analysis of all four questions.
HDN breaks down Ballot Question #4: Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants.
Donnie Palmer, the controversial Republican candidate for US House District 7, is a fighter inside and outside the ring.
Who will be the next member of the Governor's Council from District 4?
Who will be our next state representative from the 15th Suffolk District?
Who will be our next representative for the U.S. House Massachusetts District 7?
The results of the 2022 MA Primary races that Hump Day News has been tracking in Boston and statewide.
Incumbent Kevin Hayden needed something big to deflect attention from the police cover up controversy on his watch. Something big showed up right on time.
On May 24th the four candidates for House of Rep. 15th Suffolk District met online to discuss their plans for office at a forum hosted by JP Progressives.
A two-way debate between the candidates for the office of Lieutenant Governor, hosted by WBUR CitySpace on 8/15.
On August 2 GBH hosted a debate among the Democratic candidates for Lieutenant Governor.
A 8/10 debate between the Democratic candidates for State Senate 2nd Suffolk District, hosted by the GMNC.
A 8/3 debate between the candidates for Suffolk County District Attorney, hosted by The Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council.
Three-way debate! Andrea Campbell, Shannon Liss-Riordan, and Quentin Palfrey duke it out in a debate hosted by WBUR CitySpace ahead of the primary.
Did the WBUR CitySpace debate between the Democratic candidates for Secretary of State Bill Galvin and Tanisha Sullivan get nasty?