Freshman Rep. DiZoglio pledges she will be a full-time legislator

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January 3, 2013

Freshman Rep. DiZoglio pledges she will be a full-time legislator

By Paul Tennant ptennant@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Thu Jan 03, 2013, 01:00 AM EST

BOSTON — She is now state Rep. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen.

DiZoglio, 29, said it was “very exciting” to take the oath of office along with 157 other representatives yesterday morning. The swearing-in took place in the House chamber at the Statehouse and the oath was administered by Gov. Deval Patrick.

As a new representative, DiZoglio didn’t have a Statehouse telephone number and had yet to be assigned an office as of last night. She said she will publicize her phone number as soon as she receives it — because she wants constituents to call her about the issues facing the Legislature.

DiZoglio, who worked briefly as a legislative aide to former state Rep. Paul Adams, R-Andover, pulled off what might have been the biggest political upset in the state when she defeated Rep. David Torrisi, D-North Andover, in the Sept. 6 primary.

DiZoglio knocked on thousands of doors in the 14th Essex District and wore out at least one pair of shoes. Torrisi, who served in the Legislature for 14 years, credited DiZoglio for her hard work during his concession speech.

DiZoglio, a Wellesley College graduate, then went on to defeat her Republican opponent, former North Andover School Committee member Karin Rhoton, in the Nov. 6 general election.

DiZoglio hired Chris Cremens of Newton as her legislative aide. Cremens worked on her campaign and he demonstrated the “ability to interact well with constituents and to work hard until the job is done,” she said.

DiZoglio said she does not plan to open an office in her district, which includes Precincts 1 through 5 in North Andover, Precincts 3, 7 and 10 in the East End of Methuen, Precincts 1 and 3 in Lawrence’s Ward A, Precinct 1 in Ward F of that city and Precinct 2 of Ward 7 in Haverhill.

She said she will be very visible in the district and will work at the job full time.