Auditor hopeful signed anti-gay marriage petition

Mary Z. Connaughton in 2005 signed a petition that would have put Massachusetts' same-sex marriage law to a vote.

Republican candidate for Massachusetts State Auditor Mary Z. Connaughton in 2005 signed a VoteOnMarriage.org petition that called for a vote on the state's same-sex marriage law, according to KnowThyNeighbor.org, a website that published a list of the petition's signatories. Connaughton faces Democrat Suzanne Bump in the November election. Calls and e-mails to her campaign from Bay Windows were not returned.

The VoteOnMarriage.org petition gained media attention this past August when it was revealed that Northwestern County District Attorney hopeful Michael Cahillane had signed the petition almost six years ago. The Democrat told Bay Windows that he had signed "in a spirit of democracy." Cahillane lost to candidate Dave Sullivan in the Sept. 14 primary.

Connaughton and Cahillane were two of 143,000 certified signers of the 2005 petition, signatures for which were collected in an effort to end Massachusetts' legal recognition of same-sex marriage. The effort was overturned at that year's June 14 Constitutional Convention, and marriage equality was preserved in the state of Massachusetts. The list of signatories is considered public record, and was obtained by KnowThyNeighbor.org from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, William Galvin.

With the news of Connaughton's signing -- which has not been confirmed by her campaign -- comes the question of whether or not the social values of a State Auditor candidate should affect their election.

"The bottom line is that it's always good to have an ally in any office," Kara Suffredini, Executive Director of MassEquality, told Bay Windows. Suffredini referenced the political history of Connaughton's opponent Bump as evidence of positive engagement in social issues. "Suzanne Bump is someone who, from early in her career, has been very supportive of LGBT people."

While Suffredini allowed that the position of State Auditor is "a fiscal watchdog [and] it rarely intersects directly with LGBT policy issues," she maintained that any ally is a good ally.

Connaughton's opponent agrees.

"Candidates for state office need to be open and honest about their personal values. Mary Connaughton has chosen not to speak about her personal values, but as I see it, they have been clearly demonstrated through her actions," Suzanne Bump said in a statement provided to Bay Windows. "By signing anti-gay marriage petitions, by inviting Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin to campaign with her, and by participating in rallies for radicals like Bill Hudak, Connaughton paints a fairly clear picture of her values. I have always been straightforward regarding my values, including my unwavering support for LGBT civil rights, which dates back to my entering public life in 1984."

The liberal Massachusetts website BlueMassGroup.com has lately been fielding comments about the role of State Auditor in social politics, following news from KnowThyNeighbor.org that Connaughton had signed the petition. More than one commenter expressed the belief that a State Auditor's values don't matter as much as their fiscal sense.

"The auditor cannot legislate, and makes no public policy decisions," one web user posted. "It really shouldn't matter where these candidates are on 'social issues,' but which is more competent and which is more incorruptible."

Tom Lang, Director of KnowThyNeighbor.org, said that the auditor's office can be a springboard for future political positions, meaning that Connaughton's views on same-sex marriage are relevant in this election. "What she says now [about seeking future office] may change a year from now when that office is asked of her, but I couldn't imagine if someone said, 'Hey, will you be my lieutenant governor? Will you now move on to treasurer?' that she wouldn't choose to do that," Lang told Bay Windows. "That's what politicians do."

A recent Boston Globe poll found that the race for State Auditor may end in a photo finish. 33 percent of voters indicated that they support Bump, while 29 percent said that they will vote for Connaughton. 36 percent of those surveyed said that they were undecided. The poll's margin error was 4.5 percentage points.