I was saddened, though not surprised, to read the letter from my predecessors of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee in which they attempted to paint me as unethical and to sow doubt about me in our community.

These men, Kenneth Marshall, John Faria and Tony Rego, are all former chairmen of the Democratic Town Committee who led for nearly three decades. Both Faria and Marshall are former elected officials, and Marshall simultaneously served as chairman of the Town Committee while sitting in elected office as a state representative. Surely these men are well aware of the rules and laws that govern how political parties operate, since they themselves had to follow these very same rules and laws during their time in office or leading the committee.

So, their innuendos that I am behaving unethically, couched with statements like “we’re not lawyers but ...” are just absurd. In fact, an article published last week refuted their claims — with details and facts that are all easily found on the internet — showing that I am acting transparently and ethically.

So, what are the real motives of these men? It appears they just cannot accept that they’re no longer “in control” of the Democratic Town Committee, and that makes them very angry. Rather than channeling this anger productively, they are instead focused on getting revenge by trying to destroy me, personally and professionally, simply because I succeeded them with the support of a majority of voting members of the Town Committee.

It has been suggested to me that all of this is “just politics.” I reject the notion that the political process intends to excuse or justify this kind of behavior. I am committed to prioritizing ideas over insults and innuendo.

Erich Haslehurst
Bristol

Mr. Haslehurst is chairman of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee.