Massachusetts State Auditor Explained

Post:State Auditor
Body:the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Insignia:Seal of Massachusetts.svg
Insigniasize:110
Insigniacaption:Seal of Massachusetts
Insigniaalt:Seal of Massachusetts
Incumbent:Diana DiZoglio
Incumbentsince:January 18, 2023
Department:Government of Massachusetts
Type:Constitutional officer
Auditor general
Residence:None official
Seat:State House, Boston, Massachusetts
Nominator:Nominating petition,
Political parties
Appointer:Direct election
Termlength:Four years, no term limit
Constituting Instrument:Constitution of Massachusetts
First:David Wilder Jr.

The state auditor of Massachusetts is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Twenty-six individuals have occupied the office of state auditor since the office's creation in 1849. The incumbent is Diana DiZoglio, a Democrat.

Election

Term of office

The state auditor is elected by the people on Election Day in November to four-year terms, and takes office on the third Wednesday of the January following a general election. There is no limit to the number of terms a state auditor may hold.[1] Institutionally speaking, the state auditor is thus completely independent of both the governor and General Court for the purpose of performing their official duties. These constitutional protections notwithstanding, the state auditor may still be impeached for misconduct or maladministration by the House of Representatives and, if found guilty, removed from office by the Senate.[2]

Qualifications

Any person seeking election to the office of state auditor must meet the following requirements:

  1. Be at least eighteen years of age;
  2. Be a registered voter in Massachusetts;
  3. Be a Massachusetts resident for at least five years when elected; and
  4. Receive 5,000 signatures from registered voters on nomination papers.[3]

Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy in the office of state auditor, the General Court is charged, if in session, with electing from among the eligible citizens of the Commonwealth a successor to serve the balance of the prior auditor's term in office. If, however, the vacancy occurs while the General Court is not in session, then responsibility for appointing a successor falls to the governor. The appointment is not valid without the advice and consent of the Governor's Council.[4]

Powers and duties

The state auditor conducts independent and objective performance audits of each department, office, commission, agency, authority, institution, court, county, and any other activity of the Commonwealth, including programs and contractors of the foregoing entities, at least once in every three fiscal years.[5] [6] [7] By virtue of this same mandate, the state auditor may also audit any city, town, or school district upon request of the governing body thereof or pursuant to a petition of the residents from the locality concerned.

Aside from performance audits, the Office of the State Auditor also provides other assurance services to citizens and taxpayers alike. For instance, the state auditor investigates alleged or suspected instances of waste, fraud, and abuse in social safety net programs.[8] [9] [10] Moreover, the state auditor ascertains whether state laws impose burdensome mandates on local governments.[11] [12]

List of State Auditors of Massachusetts

Auditor Picture Term Party
1David Wilder Jr.1849–1854Whig
2Joseph Mitchell1854–1855
3Stephen N. Gifford1855–1856Whig
4Chandler R. Ranson1856 – January 20, 1858
5Charles WhiteJanuary 20, 1858 – 1861
6Levi Reed1861 – December 20, 1865Republican
7Julius L. ClarkeDecember 1865 – 1866
8Henry S. Briggs1866–1870
9Charles Endicott1871–1876
10Julius L. Clarke1876 – May 5, 1879
11Charles R. LaddMay 5, 1879 – 1891
12William D. T. Trefry1891–1892Democratic
13John W. Kimball1892–1901Republican
14Henry E. Turner1901–1911
15John E. WhiteJuly 6, 1911 – 1914
16Frank H. Pope1914–1915Democratic
17Alonzo B. Cook1915–1931Republican
18Francis X. Hurley1931–1935Democratic
19Thomas H. Buckley1935–1939
20Russell A. Wood1939–1941Republican
21Thomas J. Buckley1941 – September 10, 1964Democratic
22Thaddeus M. BuczkoSeptember 24, 1964 – 1981
23John J. Finnegan1981–1987
24A. Joseph DeNucci1987–2011
25Suzanne Bump2011–2023
26Diana DiZoglio2023–present

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Article LXIV, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. General Court of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.
  2. Web site: Article VIII, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. General Court of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.
  3. Web site: How to Run for Office in Massachusetts . March 2017 . Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth . December 26, 2022.
  4. Web site: Article XVII, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. General Court of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.
  5. Web site: State Constitutional Officers. Citizen Information Service, Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. April 8, 2024.
  6. Web site: About the Office of the State Auditor. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.
  7. Web site: General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part I, Title II, Chapter 11, Section 12: Enabling Statute of the Office of the State Auditor. General Court of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.
  8. Web site: Bureau of Special Investigations. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.
  9. Web site: General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part I, Title II, Chapter 11, Section 16:Bureau of Special Investigations; director; duties. General Court of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.
  10. Web site: General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part I, Title II, Chapter 11, Section 17: Director; investigations; authority. General Court of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.
  11. Web site: Division of Local Mandates. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.
  12. Web site: General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part I, Title II, Chapter 11, Section 6B: Division of Local Mandates; responsibilities and powers. General Court of Massachusetts. April 8, 2024.