Dianne Wilkerson

Dianne Wilkerson is a former American politician and attorney who served as a Democratic state senator in Massachusetts. Representing the 2nd Suffolk district in the Massachusetts Senate from 1993 until her resignation in 2008, she was the first African-American woman elected to the Massachusetts Senate. Her political career ended following a federal public corruption conviction related to a bribery scheme, for which she served time in federal prison.

Early life and education

Born around 1955 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Wilkerson moved with her family to the Boston area as a child. She was raised in the city's Roxbury neighborhood and attended Boston Public Schools. She pursued higher education at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Wilkerson then attended Boston College Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree and subsequently gaining admission to the Massachusetts Bar Association.

Political career

Wilkerson's political career began with her election to the Massachusetts Senate in a 1993 special election, succeeding Bill Owens. During her tenure, she served as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight and was a member of influential committees like the Joint Committee on Financial Services. A prominent figure in Massachusetts politics, she advocated for issues including criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and economic development in her district, which encompassed parts of Boston, Chelsea, and Mattapan. In 2006, she mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination for Massachusetts's 8th congressional district.

Bribery conviction and legal issues

In October 2008, Wilkerson was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation following an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. She was charged in a federal criminal complaint with extortion and accepting bribes totaling over $23,000, captured on video surveillance and in FBI photographs, in exchange for official acts related to liquor licenses and land development projects. The case was prosecuted by then-United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan. After initially pleading not guilty, she resigned from the Massachusetts Senate in November 2008. In 2010, she pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud and was sentenced to 42 months in a federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock.

Post-conviction activities

Following her release from prison, Wilkerson completed a period of supervised release. She has been involved in community advocacy and public speaking, often discussing the consequences of public corruption and her personal experiences. In 2021, she was granted a full pardon by the Massachusetts Governor's Council on the recommendation of Governor Charlie Baker, restoring her civil rights. The pardon was supported by several notable figures, including former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and former U.S. Attorney Wayne A. Budd.

Electoral history

* 1993 special election for Massachusetts Senate, 2nd Suffolk District: Elected. * 1994 Massachusetts Senate election: Re-elected. * 1996 Massachusetts Senate election: Re-elected. * 1998 Massachusetts Senate election: Re-elected. * 2000 Massachusetts Senate election: Re-elected. * 2002 Massachusetts Senate election: Re-elected. * 2004 Massachusetts Senate election: Re-elected as a write-in candidate after failing to submit enough certified nomination signatures. * 2006 Democratic primary for U.S. House, Massachusetts's 8th congressional district: Lost to Michael Capuano. * 2008 Massachusetts Senate election: Lost in the Democratic primary to Sonia Chang-Díaz.

Category:American lawyers Category:Massachusetts state senators Category:People convicted of federal corruption offenses in the United States