Auditor Diana DiZoglio – whose ballot question promotes legislative transparency – was among the State House lawmakers and state officials skirting state law by pocketing large donations from powerful lobbyists’ families.
DiZoglio was not included in a Boston Globe expose on state pols like Senate President Karen Spilka taking thousands of dollars in contributions from the wives of Beacon Hill power broker lobbyists.
DiZoglio, who has rankled lawmakers, is the primary sponsor of Question 1, which would give her authority to audit the Legislature. But records show she was part of that connected club of lawmakers and state officials who also took advantage of the loophole allowing large donations from families of lobbyists.
A Herald review of records shows DiZoglio accepted four $1,000 donations in 2022 and 2021 from the wife and son of lobbyist Brian Dempsey, whose firm represents clients in health care like Blue Cross Blue Shield, as well as DraftKings, FanDuel, the UMass Foundation and others. Those donations came when DiZoglio was serving in the state Senate. She became auditor in January 2023.
Under Massachusetts law, lobbyists can only give a maximum of $200 per year to candidates, but there is no law preventing their spouses or relatives from giving the maximum $1,000.
So while the donations are legal, they also are what critics call an “end run” around the law.
The Globe reported that lobbyists’ spouses and relatives have taken advantage of that loophole by funneling tens of thousands of dollars in large donations to politicians like Gov. Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.
DiZoglio, whose arch nemeses Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano were prominently mentioned in the Globe story, did not respond to a request for comment from the Herald.
The Globe story also omitted Republicans like former Gov. Charles Baker and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr.
Baker received a total of $1,700 from Kathleen Stefanini, wife of lobbyist Charles Stefanini, a total of $4,100 from Donna Finneran, wife of former House speaker turned lobbyist Thomas Finneran, a total of $4,000 from Julie Dempsey, wife of lobbyist Brian Dempsey, and a total of $2,500 from Ryan Dempsey, son of Brian and Julie Dempsey.
Kathleen Stefanini has given $600 to DiZoglio in 2022, 2018 and 2014, while she was in the Legislature, records show. Donna Finneran gave $200 to DiZoglio in 2021.
Other spouses of Beacon Hill power brokers have also given to DiZoglio.
Ellen Meehan, at the time the wife of UMass President Marty Meehan, gave a total of $1,000 to DiZoglio from 2014 to 2022, according to records. Marty Meehan is not a registered lobbyist but is among the most prominent donors to legislative and state leaders, donating more than $91,000, and gave $750 to DiZoglio in 2024, when she was the auditor, and $500 in 2022.
DiZoglio is now responsible for auditing the UMass system.
Why did the Globe leave DiZoglio’s name out of their expose, which ran a week before the election? It’s especially relevant now given the timing of Question One, which is a direct assault on the Legislature, and seems destined to pass.
Lawmakers like Spilka and Mariano deservedly take the brunt of the criticism for using the legal loophole around the $200 limit.
But DiZoglio should look at herself, too. How about an audit of the auditor?
