WORTHINGTON — Chris Dempsey, who is running for state auditor, will be the latest candidate hosted by the Sundays with the Candidates series this weekend.
“I’m very much looking forward to it,” Dempsey said “We are running a true statewide campaign.”
The series is put on by the Town Democratic Committee and takes place over Zoom. It is open to the public, regardless of residence, and those interested in attending Sunday’s event at 2 p.m. can email Worthingtondem@gmail.com with their name and town to receive the Zoom link.
“I feel really grateful to the people who do make themselves accessible to small rural groups,” said Ruth Lehrer, chairwoman of the Town Democratic Committee.
The incumbent auditor, Democrat Suzanne Bump, is not running for reelection. In addition to Dempsey, state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen, is running for the Democratic nomination. DiZoglio will be joining Sundays with the Candidates on May 1 at 2 p.m.
Dempsey served as assistant secretary of transportation in the administration of Gov. Deval Patrick. He was also a co-founder of No Boston Olympics, which lobbied against the ultimately unsuccessful bid to bring the Olympics to Boston.
“If you liked the Big Dig, you would love the Boston 2024 Olympics,” Dempsey said.
Dempsey said the Olympics would have cost billions of taxpayer dollars, and that his opposition was a matter of standing up for taxpayers statewide.
On policy, Dempsey said that he would establish an Auditor’s Environmental Justice Commission that would include rural voices.
“Rural communities are on the front lines of the climate crisis,” he said.
He also said while he has a great respect for state troopers, reform of the Massachusetts State Police would be another priority for him. “They deserve to work for an agency they can be proud of,” Dempsey said.
Additionally, he cited the oversight of the state’s federal stimulus spending as another policy priority.
On rural issues, Dempsey noted that Bump has called for a rural rescue plan that would increase Chapter 90 funding for western Massachusetts, and that his office would continue with that work.
“I think there’s an especially important role for the auditor to play on rural issues,” Dempsey said.
Dempsey lives in Brookline with his fiance, but he has family in both Montague and Holyoke. Additionally, his previous role as director of the nonprofit Transportation for Massachusetts brought him out to western Massachusetts frequently. “I’m out on a regular basis,” he said.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.