Hugo Stepping Down As Chair of the Framingham Democratic Committee

[broadstreet zone=”99032″]

FRAMINGHAM – Mike Hugo is stepping down as chair of the Framingham Democratic Committee, he announced today, March 2.

This comes almost a month after he made statements – both written and oral – to the Framingham City Council, suggesting those who may have a child with a special need should abort the baby.

Today Senate President Karen Spilka told him to step aside from his leadership role with the Framingham Democrats.

“I had a wonderful conversation with Beverly last night and our beloved State Senate President this morning, and discussions with several members of our state’s Washington delegation yesterday while in D.C., and have decided that it is best for the FDC for me to step down and no longer serve as your Chair,” wrote Hugo tonight, March 2.

Sunday night, the Framingham Democratic Committee, which is comprised of about 40 registered Democrats in the City of Framingham, voted 11-16-1 to hold a special meeting to discuss the possible remove of its embattled chair.

The vote while supporting Hugo, also shows the Committee is very split, on its chair.

Voting yes to hold the meeting and to have a discussion on the potential removal of Hugo as chair were: Phil Ottaviani, Priscila Sousa, Adam Steiner, Adam Freudberg, Cheryl Tully Stoll, Norma Shulman, John Stefanini, Audrey Hall, Pat Dunne, Kathy McCarthy, and Mary Kate Feeney.

Voting no were: Mike Hugo, Beverly Hugo, Tracey Bryant, Tom Mahoney, Margareth Shepard, Lori Bornstein, Cindy Rubin, Doug Lawrence, Barbara Fontes, Chris Lorant, Barbara LeDuc, Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley, Larry Stoodt, Mel Warshaw, Parwez Wahid, and Chris Broyles.

On February 7, Hugo sent a 4-page letter on Framingham Democratic Committee letterhead saying he was speaking for the Committee and spoke at the City Council meeting that night on February 7, again stating he was representing the Committee.

In the letter he wrote “As for those who say that our Council has no business dealing with a “state issue,” we ask if the state is going to cover the medical costs for a fetus that had sound medical reason to be terminated? is the state going to cover the costs of special education for a down’s syndrome affected child? Is the state going to pay for the extraordinary medical expense of a child with an atrial septal defect? How much does Framingham’s Public School Department pay for unreimbursed special needs school transportation, specialized education and durable supplies?”

His verbal statement to the City Council was almost the same.

On February 16, the executive committee of the Framingham Democratic Committee held an emergency meeting.

The next day, the executive committee issued this statement ““The Chair’s remarks were harmful, misleading, and wrong. They did not accurately reflect the vote of the full Framingham Democratic Committee and we fully disavow and denounce them. We are deeply sorry to all for these remarks and have put in place processes to avoid future occurrences.”

[broadstreet zone=”59947″]