In this week’s episode of Political Contessa, Jennifer welcomes Elizabeth Dionne, a relentless reformer, attorney, and former chair of the Belmont Select Board with proven leadership, financial, and legal expertise. Elizabeth is running for Massachusetts State Treasurer, bringing a history of fiscal responsibility, having delivered balanced municipal budgets and never relying on reserve funds. As a mother of four and a decades-long resident of Massachusetts, Elizabeth is focused on restoring fiscal sanity and advocating for efficient, taxpayer-centered governance. She is widely recognized for working across the aisle, championing transparency, and prioritizing common sense in public service. This episode dives into the urgent issues facing Massachusetts, highlighting controversial and neglected realities, including unchecked government spending, cronyism, insider deals, and an overwhelming exodus of taxpayers and young talent driven by high costs. Elizabeth explains how, over years of one-party Democratic rule, waste, graft, and benefit fraud have flourished while essential state agencies—like the Lottery and the School Building Authority—are riddled with inefficiency and patronage hires. She exposes staggering mismanagement under the current treasurer, the misuse of funds for personal vendettas, and runaway costs in programs meant to support local communities and frontline services. Elizabeth lays out her plan for regular audits, whistleblower protection, and transparency, calling on voters to make 2026 the year Massachusetts reclaims responsible government. The conversation features a call to action for voters to prioritize local elections, push back against the status quo, and demand leadership that values every tax dollar. “I am taking no industry money. If you look at her donations, a lot of industry money. The people who are coming before her, the people she’s regulating, she’s taking money from. That’s corrupt.” ~Elizabeth Dionne This week on Political Contessa: Massachusetts’ unchecked government spending and the urgent need for audits The impact of one-party rule, cronyism, and benefit fraud on state finances Mismanagement and patronage hires undermining the Massachusetts Lottery How runaway costs in the School Building Authority neglect needy students The exodus of taxpayers and young talent from Massachusetts Exploding benefit rolls and the strain on the state’s tax base The $33 billion deficit threatening public pensions and fiscal stability A concrete plan for whistleblower protection, transparency, and fiscal reform Connect with Elizabeth Dionne: Elizabeth Dionne campaign website Resources mentioned: Massachusetts State Retirement Board Massachusetts School Building Authority Star Market app (for coupon savings, an example of personal fiscal discipline) Awaken Your Inner Political Contessa Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Political Contessa. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google Podcasts Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. And if you’ve ever considered running for office – or know a woman who should – head over to politicalcontessa.com to grab my quick guide, Secrets from the Campaign Trail. It will show you five signs to tell you you’re ready to enter the political arena. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
