Contributions and expenses of candidates, political parties and registered lobbyists are required to be reported by state law. However, the public does not typically research this kind of public information, so we want to make some of this information public, because we find it repugnant that Bristol Democratic Town Committee Chairman Erich Haslehurst has been charging local state Democrat candidates for “political consulting services.”

As the chairperson of the Town Committee, he appoints the sub-committee chairperson for Fundraising AND the Nominating Chairperson, as well as the members of those committees. De facto he can put the local Democrat party to work raising money for Democrat candidates, endorse them and then charge them money for “political consulting.” 

That cannot be, you say? How is it possible that the chair of a political party who is also a registered lobbyist gets away with this, you ask? Chairman Haslehurst may be following the letter of the law, and we are not lawyers, but in our view, it creates the impression of ethical misbehavior. And perception is often reality.

Chairman Haslehurst has collected tens of thousands of dollars for “political consulting services” from senators and representatives since his rise to local Democrat chair.

As previous Chairmen of the Bristol Democrat Town Committee for almost three decades, never once did we charge any local or state Democrat candidate for “political consulting services.” It is part of the job.

Further, as a registered lobbyist, he walks a slippery slope. He can use his position to sway the votes and views of committee members, who are elected officials, in favor of his client’s positions. Committee members should be mindful of this potential for conflict and strive for transparency, so the public has full faith in the committee members’ positions on all issues. 

We encourage the Phoenix to research this issue and let the public know the details and facts.

Anthony Rego
Kenneth A. Marshall
John E. Faria

Bristol

The three authors were successive chairmen of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee prior to 2019.