Framingham Dems Chair Mike Hugo Stepping Down

FRAMINGHAM, MA — It was less than a week ago that Framingham Democratic Chair Mike Hugo received a vote of support for keeping his job after controversial comments made about children with disabilities.

On Thursday, however, Patch learned that Hugo, who continued facing pressure even after the vote, will step down from his role.

Hugo, who said he discussed the issue with Senate President Karen Spilka, members of the committee and his family called his resignation "necessary to eliminate any distraction from the important work of the local Democratic Committee, as well as the State Party."

Read his full statement below:

"Recognizing my unfortunate misstatement at a recent City Council meeting, and upon discussing the issue with my wife, family, Senate President Karen Spilka, and various members of the Framingham Democratic Committee, I have decided that my resignation is necessary to eliminate any distraction from the important work of the local Democratic Committee, as well as the State Party. I thank the Committee members for their recent show of support in defeating a motion to even discuss my removal, thus this is of my own volition. I feel it is what is best for the Committee, my loved ones, my emotional and physical health, our cause and those I serve in my work. While I am stepping down as Chair after over a decade of service as an officer, I plan to continue to do the work of the party. Even though I issued separate apologies to the City Council, The Framingham Democratic Committee, and the entire city within hours of the statement, I wish to reiterate that I am sorry for distracting from a major victory for freedom of choice, and for harm to the differently-abled community at large."

A motion to remove Framingham Democratic Committee Chair Mike Hugo from his position was voted down at a Sunday meeting. The motion was voted down with 16 votes against, 11 in favor and one abstention.

Hugo came under fire after comments he made at a City Council meeting about children with disabilities. The statement was met with swift reaction from locals, and then began to make national headlines, with the story featured on the New York Post and Fox News.

More recently, players within Massachusetts state politics have come out to call for Hugo to step down.

Rep. Jack Lewis released a lengthy statement on Thursday afternoon. In that note, he said that he asked Hugo to step down from his role before the committee's Sunday meeting, where they voted against considering that.

Lewis said that, as a member of the committee, he believes Hugo's leadership role continues to hinder the healing process.

Read more: MA Rep. Jack Lewis Asked Framingham Dems Chair To Step Down

Framingham Source reported that Senate President Karen Spilka also called for Hugo to step down from his role. The state Democratic Party didn't call for him to step down but, according to Source, said that Chair Gus Bickford was "aware of Hugo’s comments and is personally appalled."

Hugo issued an apology recently after comments he made while discussing crisis pregnancy centers and abortion also included a question about who is financially responsible for children with disabilities.

In his apology, Hugo said the letter sent to the City Council didn't properly reflect his thoughts on the issue.

The executive committee of the Framingham Democrats issued a statement following Hugo's apology, noting that they've put new protocols in place to prevent these mistakes with future communications.

You can read both of these statements in the story linked here: Framingham Democrats Update Protocols After Chair's Abortion Comments

Despite the apology and the change to procedures, a standout was hosted on Tuesday at City Hall.