Bolton consultant plans run for state auditor

(Correction: Because of a reporting error, a story in Friday's City & Region section about Republican Earle Stroll's campaign for auditor incorrectly said a primary would be held on April 28. It is the state Republican convention that will be held that day.)

Republican Earle Stroll said yesterday that he is launching a campaign to unseat veteran State Auditor Joseph DeNucci.

Stroll, a 52-year-old small-business consultant from Bolton, ran for the position in 1994 and lost in the Republican primary to Forrester Clark, gaining 30 percent of the vote. In that race, Stroll began his campaign two years before the election. This time around, Stroll has less than two months to prepare his campaign before the April 28 primary.

''This is a very condensed campaign," he said in an interview yesterday. ''From now until the end of April, I will be financing it myself. If need be, I will finance it through to the primary." He plans to formally announce the campaign Monday.

Stroll was critical of the auditing system under DeNucci, saying the office needs to be modernized. ''The department has to be brought into alignment with the economy and brought into a technological age," he said.

DeNucci, first elected to the statewide post in 1986, said he was undeterred by the announcement.

''It doesn't surprise me," he said yesterday in a statement delivered through spokesman Glenn Briere. ''He's been a candidate for state auditor in the past. I will continue to work hard every day to keep the faith and trust that the people of Massachusetts have placed in me."