News Features

A Handy Guide to the Big Dig Screw-Up

By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | July 27, 2006

State administration officials
Since 1991, state administration has been in the hands of Republican governors who are especially pro-business and anti-government: William Weld, Paul Cellucci, Jane Swift, and Mitt Romney. As a result, a succession of key appointments have gone to people with little interest in bringing scrutiny to Bechtel and other companies on the project.

Massachusetts Transportation Secretaries
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John Cogliano (2005– ) Romney appointee; former MassHighway commissioner

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Daniel A. Grabauskas (2003–2005) Romney appointee, now head of MBTA

Daniel A. Grabauskas (2003–2005) Romney appointee, now head of MBTA

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Kevin J. Sullivan (1998–2002) Cellucci appointee; former MassHighway commissioner

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Patrick J. Moynihan (1997–1998) Weld appointee

James J. Kerasiotes (1992–1997) Weld appointee; former MassHighway commissioner, former staffer for governor Ed King

Richard Taylor (1991–1992), Weld appointee

Massachusetts Secretaries of Administration and Finance

Thomas H. Trimarco (2005– ) Romney appointee

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Eric Kriss (2003–2005) Romney appointee, former Weld appointee

Kevin J. Sullivan (2002) Swift appointee

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Stephen P. Crosby (2000–2002) Cellucci appointee; former campaign manager for Governor Frank Sargent

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Andrew Natsios (1998–2000) Cellucci appointee; long-time Cellucci friend; friend of George W. Bush

Charles D. Baker Jr. (1998) Weld appointee; state GOP insider and funder

State attorneys general
The AG’s office has had a crucial oversight role all along, especially since 1997, when a seat on the oversight committee was created for the AG. Not much has resulted from either AG’s involvement.

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Thomas Reilly (1999– ) gubernatorial candidate

Scott Harshbarger (1991–1999) lost to Joe Malone in 1998 gubernatorial primary

State auditor
Over the years, State Auditor Joseph DeNucci has issued a stack of reports and recommendations on cost overruns that “the Big Dig consistently rejected,” as the inspector general wrote.

A. Joseph DeNucci (1987– )

State inspectors general
Both inspectors general have released a number of highly critical reports — which is about the extent of their authority.

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Gregory W. Sullivan (2001–) appointed simultaneously by Reilly, Swift, and DeNucci; deputy to Cerasoli 1992–2001, eight-term state representative

Robert Cerasoli (1991–2001)

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