Former New York Mayor says New Hampshire voters will appreciate the record of Joseph Malone. But Malone's 1990s run as Massachusetts treasurer saw more than 9 million dollars siphoned from state coffers by agency employees.
Mayor Giuliani began his day with a private fundraiser at an Italian restaurant in Boston’s financial district. ….At the press conference that followed the event, former Massachusetts treasurer Joseph Malone was center stage, telling reporters that Giuliani was the total package – strong, smart, politically skilled, and endowed with the common touch.
"Someone who much like Ronald Reagan, will restore faith in Americans, so that they say we live in the greatest country in the world, America can accomplish anything it sets it mind to do -- and this is the man right here who will make it happen."
When it was Giuliani’s turn to talk he was quick to return the favor.
"I’m very very honored to have Joe’s endorsement. He was an absolutely superb treasurer. He was somebody who was always very well-known for understanding the economy, understanding budgets, knew very well how to keep those two things in balance with each other."
Giuliani added that he expects Malone’s endorsement to serve him beyond the Massachusetts border -- noting that New Hampshire voters would definitely take notice of somebody with a record like Joe Malone’s.
"They’ll care about a former treasurer of Massachusetts with the kind of record that people in NH really admire – a record for fiscal discipline, for good management."
But if New Hampshire voters know Malone at all, it's probably for his ties to a public corruption scandal Massachusetts prosecutors called the worst in that state's history……. Seven men, including Malone’s top campaign fundraiser and a deputy treasurer Malone appointed made off with 9.4 million dollars in state money. Joe Malone was never himself implicated in the crimes, but the controversy damaged his reputation. Malone joined Giuliani in Concord as he formalized his candidacy. Afterwards, Malone said any concerns about his record as Massachusetts treasurer are ill-founded.
"They were rogue employees who just went off on their own tangent and did something bad.
But if you look at the culture of our office, we brought more efficiency, more effectiveness and did an A-plus job."
Malone said he expects to be in NH on Giuliani’s behalf regularly – and will be advising him on economic policy and helping what he called "the Rudy cause" in any way he can…….The Giuliani campaign did not reurn several calls seeking comment.
