Local Dem. chairman resigns amid controversy
Disability advocates look to move on from 'harmful' comments
Disability advocates are expressing relief over the resignation of the Framingham Democratic Committee chairman who sparked outrage for comments he made last month that appeared to connect aborting children with disabilities to saving money on special education costs.
Mike Hugo stepped down from the position on Thursday, shortly after state Senate President Karen Spilka and state Rep. Jack Lewis, of Framingham, made public pleas that he vacate the role.
The controversy began at the City Council’s Feb. 7 meeting, when councilors approved a proclamation to affirm state law protecting abortion access and to raise awareness about “crisis pregnancy centers,” which are places that critics say pretend to be abortion clinics but actually try to dissuade women from getting abortions.
Hugo, in a letter and then in verbal remarks to councilors, said he’s concerned about how those untrained to perform an ultrasound at a crisis pregnancy center wouldn’t pick up on defects that could hurt the fetus or pregnant person.
“Is the state going to cover the costs of special education for a down’s syndrome affected child?” Hugo wrote. “How much does Framingham’s Public School Department pay for unreimbursed special needs school transportation, specialized education and durable supplies?”
The public statements from Spilka and Lewis, made to hyperlocal news site Framingham Source, came after weeks of outcry from city residents and those involved in disability awareness efforts.
Ashland resident Jon Fetherston, who works in Framingham, told the Herald on Friday he’s glad that Hugo “finally decided to do the right thing.”
“As the story went international and I heard from people all over the world (regarding) the pain he caused, it saddens me that it took so long for senior leadership to finally pressure him into it,” Fetherston, a father of an adult child with disabilities, said in a text message. “It highlights how much awareness is still needed about how much value the special needs community adds.”
Community members say Hugo’s resignation came as a shock, especially after the
Democratic Committee on Sunday voted unanimously, 27-0, to endorse a statement “repudiating” his comments while opposing a motion to add an agenda item to a future meeting to discuss whether Hugo should be removed.
“When a public official says something like that it opens the door for other people with those hateful ideas to come forward and say them because a public official said and it was OK,” city resident Laura Green told the Herald. “But now this sends the message that it’s not OK.”
In a statement Thursday, Hugo said his resignation came after “recognizing my unfortunate misstatement at a recent City City Council meeting, and upon discussing the issue with my wife, family, Senate President Karen Spilka, and various members of the Framingham Democratic Committee.”
The decision, he said, “is necessary to eliminate any distraction from the important work of the local Democratic Committee, as well as the State Party.”
Hugo had issued several apologies to the public since then before making another Thursday.
“I wish to reiterate that I am sorry for distracting from a major victory for freedom of choice, and for harm to the other-abled community at large,” he said.
Going forward, Green said she’d like to see fellow disability advocates band together and hold disability education nights for public officials and first responders. More disability awareness programming and campaigns would also be a step in the right direction, she said.
“The topic of disability can be very uncomfortable for some people, and it shouldn’t be,” Green said. “If they don’t have a safe space to ask questions in, they don’t know what to do.”