Suzanne Bump Is Not Stepping Down

BOSTON, MA — Shutting down speculation that she might step down, State Auditor Suzanne Bump released a clear statement Tuesday: she's staying in office, even as she succeeds her late husband's business operations.

The public statement was released in response to a Boston Globe article Monday that raised questions about her takeover of recently deceased husband Paul McDevitt's addiction relief therapy business, a company the Globe reports works with private firms and labor union members.

The paper asked: How will she balance her private financial interests with her duties as an elected state constitutional officer?

Bump, of Braintree, declined an interview request from the Globe this weekend, but replied in a statement Tuesday:

“The recent death of my husband, Paul McDevitt, apparently has caused some to speculate that I may leave my position in order to run the two businesses he owned and operated. Let me be clear, I remain committed to the work of the office of the State Auditor. I will be completing my current four-year term, and I intend to seek re-election in 2018.

Even before Paul received his terminal diagnosis, he had been preparing his successor, planning for retirement in the near term. I therefore already have named Paul's executive Vice President as president and chief executive officer of both Modern Assistance Programs, Inc. and MAP Test, Inc. I am now owner and sole director of both entities, but will have no role in the day to day operations of either company. I leave it to the CEO and professionals there to maintain Paul's legacy of compassionate service in the fields of mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Given the private sector nature of the business, it raises no known conflicts of interest for me as an elected official. Nonetheless, I will be informing the State Ethics Commission of my new ownership interest as soon as the necessary legal and operational details have been finalized. Further, I always will keep uppermost in my thinking not just my legal obligations but my ethical obligations as a government accountability officer.”

You can read Monday's full story from The Boston Globe here.

Photo via mass.gov