Politician you've never heard of running for office you've never paid attention to

Mary Connaughton to run for state auditor.

Posted In

Politics |
2010 elections

Submitted by adamg on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 7:45pm.

Yes, we have

Oh, yes, we have heard of her. A bright spot on the [soon-to-be-defunct] turnpike board.

Michael Pahre | Wed, 10/28/2009 - 8:22pm

Extremely Important Position

Actually, for those who don't pay attention to the race for this position? They should. It's one of the most important positions in state government.

The Auditor is, more-or-less, a referee whose job it is to oversee all state finances and operations, and then decide if everything is on the up-and-up. There's more to it, but that's the gist.

Personally, I think it's the one statewide office that cries out for a strong independent or third-party candidate, since the position should be one of watchdog over those from the two (well, in Massachusetts, 1-and-a-half) major parties. As Carla Howell opined, during her run for the office in 1998: "Shouldn't the referee be neutral?"

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

Suldog | Thu, 10/29/2009 - 10:02am

How outspoken and independent was she...

...when the state had a Republican governor?

(No idea of the answer, fishing for solid information)

Michael Kerpan | Thu, 10/29/2009 - 10:10am

As Much So

Political generalization here: Libertarians aren't necessarily friends of either Republicans or Democrats. Our fiscal policies may look to Democrats as though we're friends of Republicans, but our social policies look to Republicans as though we're friends of Democrats.

Since Howell is much more well-known for her tax battles than for other issues, she may appear more of a Republican, but I assure you that if you were to ask her opinions on, say, gay marriage or marijuana legalization or other generally non-monetary issues, you'd find her agreeing with the majority of Democrats on most.

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

Suldog | Fri, 10/30/2009 - 8:01am

Is Howell running for State Auditor too?

I was actually wondering whether anyone knew whether Mart Connaughton showed any real independence _before_ Deval P. became governor.

Sorry if my inital question was too opaque.

Michael Kerpan | Fri, 10/30/2009 - 9:45am

To Answer The Header...

... not that I know of. She ran in 1998, as mentioned above.

I know nothing concerning Connaughton.

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

Suldog | Fri, 10/30/2009 - 1:15pm