Joseph DiCarlo
| Joseph DiCarlo | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate | |
|
In office 1969–1977 |
|
| Preceded by | Harry Della Russo |
| Succeeded by | Frank J. Mastrocola, Jr. |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 18th Suffolk district | |
|
In office 1965–1969 |
|
| Preceded by | Joseph Del Grosso |
| Succeeded by | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 21, 1936 Somerville, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Revere, Massachusetts |
| Alma mater |
Boston College B.A. Boston University M.Ed. |
| Occupation | Teacher Politician Construction worker |
Joseph J. C. DiCarlo is an American politician who served in both houses of the Massachusetts General Court. He was expelled from the Senate in 1977 after he was convicted of extortion. He was the first Massachusetts State Senator to be expelled.
DiCarlo was born on March 21, 1936 in Somerville, Massachusetts. He grew up in Revere, Massachusetts and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School, Boston College, and Boston University. Prior to entering politics, DiCarlo was a junior high school history teacher in Revere.
In 1964, DiCarlo was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. During his first term he was named chairman of the education committee. In 1968 DiCarlo challenged incumbent State Senator Harry Della Russo in the 1st Suffolk District (later known as the Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex District), which consisted of Revere, Winthrop, Saugus, and Everett. He upset Della Russo in the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election.
From 1971 to 1973 DiCarlo was the Assistant Majority Leader. In this role he gained a reputation as being fiercely loyal to Senate President Kevin B. Harrington. In 1973 Harrington promoted DiCarlo to Senate Majority Leader, which made him the second ranking person in the Senate. DiCarlo was seen as Harrington's protégée and eventual successor.
At the 1970 state Democratic Convention, DiCarlo was considered a possible compromise candidate for Lieutenant Governor if the convention was deadlocked. However, there was no deadlock and the nomination was won by Michael Dukakis.
On August 13, 1976 a grand jury indicted DiCarlo and fellow Senator Ronald C. Mackenzie on charges that they extorted $40,000 from a consulting company. According to the indictment, DiCarlo and Mackenzie threatened McKee-Berger-Mansueto, Inc. (MBM), the consulting company supervising construction of the University of Massachusetts Boston campus at Columbia Point, with an unfavorable report from the legislative committee investigating their contract unless they were paid. DiCarlo and Mackenzie were charged with violating the Hobbs Act, which forbids extortion by public officials, and the Travel Act, which forbids crossing state lines for the purpose of extortion. On February 25, 1977, DiCarlo and Mackenzie were found guilty after a 23-day trial. He was sentenced to one year in prison and fined $5,000.
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