View source for Massachusetts State Auditor

{{Short description|Chief accountability officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                    = State Auditor
| body                    = the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
| insignia                = Seal of Massachusetts.svg
| insigniasize            = 110
| insigniacaption         = [[Seal of Massachusetts]]
| insigniaalt             = Seal of Massachusetts
| image                   = File:Diana DiZoglio 2021.jpg
| alt                     = Portrait
| imagecaption            = 
| incumbent               = [[Diana DiZoglio]]
| acting                  = 
| incumbentsince          = January 18, 2023
| department              = [[Government of Massachusetts]]
| style                   = {{ublist|Mister or Madam Auditor<br>{{small|(informal)}}|[[The Honourable#United States of America|The Honorable]]<br>{{small|(formal)}}}}
| type                    = [[Government of Massachusetts#Constitutional officers|Constitutional officer]]<br>[[Auditor general]]
| member_of               = 
| reports_to              = 
| residence               = None official
| seat                    = [[Massachusetts State House|State House]], [[Boston, Massachusetts]]
| nominator               = [[Nominating petition]],<br>[[Political parties and political designations in Massachusetts|Political parties]]
| appointer               = [[Direct election]]
| termlength              = Four years, no [[term limit]]
| constituting_instrument = [[Constitution of Massachusetts]]
| formation               = {{Start date and age|1849}}
| first                   = [[David Wilder Jr.]]
| unofficial_names        = 
| deputy                  = 
| salary                  = 
| website                 = {{URL|www.mass.gov/auditor/}}
| footnotes               = 
}}
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 [[Massachusetts Democratic Party|Democrat]].

==Election==
===Term of office===
The state auditor is [[Direct election|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 [[term limit|limit]] to the number of terms a state auditor may hold.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution|title=Article LXIV, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts|publisher=General Court of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref> Institutionally speaking, the state auditor is thus completely [[Auditor independence|independent]] of both the [[Governor of Massachusetts|governor]] and [[General Court of Massachusetts|General Court]] for the purpose of performing their official duties. These constitutional protections notwithstanding, the state auditor may still be [[Impeachment|impeached]] for misconduct or maladministration by the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and, if found guilty, removed from office by the [[Massachusetts Senate|Senate]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution|title=Article VIII, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts|publisher=General Court of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref>

===Qualifications===
Any person seeking election to the office of state auditor must meet the following requirements:
#Be at least eighteen years of age;
#Be a registered voter in Massachusetts;
#Be a Massachusetts resident for at least five years when elected; and
#Receive 5,000 signatures from registered voters on nomination papers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Candidates-Guide-generic.pdf |title=How to Run for Office in Massachusetts |date=March 2017 |website=Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref>

===Vacancies===
In the event of a vacancy in the office of state auditor, the [[General Court of Massachusetts|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.{{Efn|Citizens of the Commonwealth of the Massachusetts are officially designated as "Bay Staters". Being a Bay Stater implies concurrent U.S. citizenship, which is required in order to vote in Massachusetts and to run for any public office, including that of state auditor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleI/Chapter2/Section35|title=Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 2, Section 35: Designation of citizens of commonwealth|publisher=General Court of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/voter-resources/registering-to-vote.htm|title=Registering to Vote|publisher=Elections Division, Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref>}}  If, however, the vacancy occurs while the General Court is not in session, then responsibility for appointing a successor falls to the [[Governor of Massachusetts|governor]]. The appointment is not valid without the [[advice and consent]] of the [[Massachusetts Governor's Council|Governor's Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution|title=Article XVII, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts|publisher=General Court of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref>

==Powers and duties==
The state auditor conducts independent and objective [[Government performance auditing|performance audits]] of each department, office, commission, agency, authority, institution, court, county, and any other activity of the Commonwealth, including [[Program evaluation|programs]] and [[Vendors|contractors]] of the foregoing entities, at least once in every three fiscal years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/cis/government/constitutional-officers.htm|title=State Constitutional Officers|publisher=Citizen Information Service, Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mass.gov/info-details/about-the-office-of-the-state-auditor|title=About the Office of the State Auditor|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter11/Section12|title=General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part I, Title II, Chapter 11, Section 12: Enabling Statute of the Office of the State Auditor|publisher=General Court of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref> 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.{{Efn|Regardless of the entity subject to audit, all audits conducted by the Office of the State Auditor are performed in accordance with [[Government Auditing Standards]] promulgated by the [[Comptroller General of the United States|comptroller general of the United States]].}}

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 [[Welfare|social safety net programs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mass.gov/orgs/bureau-of-special-investigations|title=Bureau of Special Investigations|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter11/Section16|title=General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part I, Title II, Chapter 11, Section 16:Bureau of Special Investigations; director; duties|publisher=General Court of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter11/Section17|title=General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part I, Title II, Chapter 11, Section 17: Director; investigations; authority|publisher=General Court of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref> Moreover, the state auditor ascertains whether state laws impose burdensome mandates on local governments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-local-mandates|title=Division of Local Mandates|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter11/Section6B|title=General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part I, Title II, Chapter 11, Section 6B: Division of Local Mandates; responsibilities and powers|publisher=General Court of Massachusetts|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref>

==List of State Auditors of Massachusetts==
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
! # !! Auditor !! Picture !! Term !! Party
|- {{Party shading/Whig}}
| 1
| [[David Wilder Jr.]]
| 
|  1849–1854
| [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]]
|-
| 2
| Joseph Mitchell
| 
| 1854–1855
| 
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
| 3
| [[Stephen N. Gifford]]
| [[Image:Picture of Stephen Nye Gifford.png|50px]]
| 1855–1856
| Whig
|-
| 4
| Chandler R. Ranson
| 
| 1856 – January 20, 1858
| 
|-
| 5
| Charles White
| 
| January 20, 1858 – 1861
| 
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 6
| [[Levi Reed]]
| 
| 1861 – December 20, 1865
| rowspan="6"| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 7
| [[Julius L. Clarke]]
| 
| December 1865 – 1866
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 8
| [[Henry Shaw Briggs|Henry S. Briggs]]
| [[Image:Brig Gen Henry S. Briggs.png|50px]]
| 1866–1870
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 9
| [[Charles Endicott]]
| [[Image:Charles Endicott.png|50px]]
| 1871–1876
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 10
| [[Julius L. Clarke]]
| 
| 1876 – May 5, 1879
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 11
| [[Charles R. Ladd]]
| [[Image:1873 Charles Rensselaer Ladd Massachusetts House of Representatives.png|50px]]
| May 5, 1879 – 1891
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 12
| [[William D. T. Trefry]]
| [[Image:William D.T. Trefry.png|50px]]
| 1891–1892
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 13
| [[John W. Kimball]]
| [[Image:John W Kimball.png|50px]]
| 1892–1901
| rowspan="3"| Republican
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 14
| [[Henry E. Turner (Massachusetts politician)|Henry E. Turner]]
| [[Image:Henry E Turner.png|50px]]
| 1901–1911
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 15
| [[John E. White]]
| [[Image:John E. White.png|50px]]
| July 6, 1911 – 1914
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 16
| [[Frank H. Pope]]
| [[Image:1908 Frank Pope Massachusetts House of Representatives.png|50px]]
| 1914–1915
| Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 17
| [[Alonzo B. Cook]]
|[[Image:Alonzo B. Cook.png|50px]]
| 1915–1931
| Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 18
| [[Francis X. Hurley]]
| [[Image:Francis X. Hurley.png|50px]]
| 1931–1935
| rowspan="2"| Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 19
| [[Thomas H. Buckley]]
| 
| 1935–1939
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 20
| [[Russell A. Wood]]
| [[Image:1911 Russell Wood Massachusetts House of Representatives.png|50px]]
| 1939–1941
| Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 21
| [[Thomas J. Buckley]]
|
| 1941 – September 10, 1964
| rowspan="6"| Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 22
| [[Thaddeus M. Buczko]]
| [[Image:Thaddeus Buczko (48265067096).jpg|50px]]
| September 24, 1964 – 1981
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 23
| [[John J. Finnegan]]
| [[Image:John J. Finnegan.png|50px]]
| 1981–1987
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 24
| [[A. Joseph DeNucci]]
| [[Image:1983 A Joseph DeNucci Massachusetts House of Representatives.png|50px]]
| 1987–2011
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 25
| [[Suzanne Bump]]
| [[File:Suzanne M. Bump official photo 3 (cropped).jpg|50px]]
| 2011–2023
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 26
| [[Diana DiZoglio]]
| [[File:Diana DiZoglio 2021.jpg|50px]]
| 2023–present
|}

==Footnotes==
{{notes}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{citation |title= Office of the State Auditor |via=[[State Library of Massachusetts]] electronic repository |hdl= 2452/35571 }}. (Various documents).

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[[Category:Government audit]]
[[Category:State auditors of Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in Massachusetts]]