“Today the Boston Globe reported on a matter concerning Sheriff Guy Glodis that should deeply concern us all as taxpayers and as residents. Sheriff Glodis wants to be State Auditor, a position which demands scrupulousness, accountability and transparency, yet it is clear that he cannot himself meet these standards.

The fundamental responsibility of the State Auditor is to follow the money in state government to ensure that every rule is followed; that every penny is accounted for; and that every dollar is tracked to see that it is spent legally and appropriately. Simply put - the State Auditor must have the ability to demand that every ‘I’ is dotted and that every ‘T’ is crossed by every State agency and every State employee who lets out a public contract.

The Globe, however, has reported today on the Sheriff’s misleading, if not overtly deceptive, disclosure to the state Ethics Commission of the source of a personal loan of $20,000. His explanation as to why he failed to disclose the true source of the funds is frankly implausible and of concern. But, more than that, it fits into a pattern of disregard for laws regulating the use of both public money and campaign funds.

Earlier this year, the Office of State Auditor cited the Sheriff’s assignment of illegal and improper no-bid contracts at the Worcester County jail, and the Sheriff paid a fine to the Commonwealth after he was found by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance to have illegally used the Deputy Sheriff’s Association to pay for campaign material. He has also been cited for mixing campaign contributions with personal funds. All these things call into question whether Sheriff Glodis has either the necessary skill set or, even more important, the necessary values to be the watchdog of all our public monies.

Today I urge the State Ethics Commission and other appropriate authorities to begin an immediate investigation into Sheriff Glodis’ other disclosures regarding his financial dealings.

I urge Democratic and independent voters to who intend to vote in the Primary on September 14 to ask themselves if the sloppy, and possibly illegal, public and private practices uncovered by this news report and other public reports on the Sheriff’s activities lead them to believe this is the person they want to oversee the Office of State Auditor for the next four years.

Only Sheriff Glodis can decide whether to continue his campaign for this position of trust. If he does, however, it’s the public who will decide if his candidacy really deserves their serious consideration.”