DiZoglio seeks to expand oversight in second term as state auditor 

Diana DiZoglio centered her first term as state auditor on her push to audit the State Legislature and expand oversight across state government. She’s seeking a second term to continue that work, with a goal of securing additional resources to fund her agenda. 

She said her experience drives her priorities as state auditor.

“I learned about all the good things that the government can do, but I also learned about the flip side of how our government can operate when there is no accountability,” said DiZoglio, who previously served 10 years in the state Legislature, serving six years in the House and four in the Senate. 

Throughout her time in the Legislature, DiZoglio said she became more outspoken about transparency and accountability. She cited specific issues that concerned her. She pointed to the Legislature’s use of taxpayer-funded nondisclosure agreements, which she said could conceal allegations of harassment, discrimination and abuse. She also criticized the speed with which lawmakers were expected to vote on legislation. 

She said she decided to run for the auditor’s seat first in 2022 and again this year, seeing it as a stronger platform to address those areas of concern. 

Pursuing her goals during her first term

Since taking office in January 2023, DiZoglio’s office has audited the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and, through its Division of Local Mandates, determined that the MBTA Communities Act constituted an unfunded mandate. 

But one of her main priorities remains unresolved: auditing the state Legislature. She championed a 2024 ballot initiative granting her office that authority, which voters approved with about 72% support. Since then, she has faced resistance in obtaining records and carrying out the audit. 

“I have been stonewalled from being able to conduct that audit as mandated by 72% of the voters of this commonwealth,” DiZoglio said.  

Legislative leaders have raised concerns about separation of powers and legislative privilege. Attorney General Andrea Campbell argued that DiZoglio initially failed to provide enough detail about the scope of litigation she wanted authorized. DiZoglio has disputed that account. 

The dispute reached the Supreme Judicial Court after DiZoglio sued House Speaker Ronald Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka and the clerks of both chambers in February. In May the court directed Campbell to decide whether DiZoglio could pursue litigation over four categories of legislative records. Campbell later authorized DiZoglio to proceed with outside counsel. 

Meanwhile, the House passed a bill in June proposing a narrower framework for legislative audits and giving legislative leaders a role in allowing certain records requests. The Senate later passed a substantially different version, sending the proposals to a conference committee. 

State reps. John Lawn (D-10th Middlesex) and Thomas Stanley (D-9th Middlesex) did not respond to requests for comment on DiZoglio’s tenure as auditor.

DiZoglio wants ‘bold and meaningful change’

If elected to a second term, DiZoglio hopes to secure more resources for an office in which she said has been forced to “audit more with less” as state government has grown. She said the requirement to audit covered entities at least once every three years can limit the depth of the office’s examinations. 

DiZoglio is also backing Question 1 on the November ballot, which would bring the Legislature, governor’s office and judiciary under the state public records law. Massachusetts is the only state where all three entities are exempt from its public records law. DiZoglio criticized recent legislative proposals establishing a narrower framework for the Legislature, calling them a “preemptive strike” against the ballot question. 

“I will continue to beat the drum that we can make bold and meaningful change to get our democratic government away from the authoritarian style of governance that is sweeping the Statehouse right now,” DiZoglio said. 

DiZoglio is running unopposed for reelection. The Massachusetts’ primary election is Sept.1 and the general election is Nov. 3.