Progressives take charge of Bristol Democratic Town Committee

By Christy Nadalin
Posted 1/16/19

The Bristol Democratic Town Committee held its biennial reorganizational meeting and election of officers on Tuesday, and when the dust had settled, activist Erich Haslehurst was elected chairman; …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Progressives take charge of Bristol Democratic Town Committee

Posted

The Bristol Democratic Town Committee held its biennial reorganizational meeting and election of officers on Tuesday, and when the dust had settled, activist Erich Haslehurst was elected chairman; the previous recording secretary (and current chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party Women’s Caucus) Tracy Ramos was elected vice chairman; Bethany Foster was named treasurer; MaryKae Wright the corresponding secretary; and Clara Read the recording secretary.

Mr. Haslehurst replaces Tony Rego in the role of chairman of the committee.

“Tony Rego has always been a consummate gentleman, and I am grateful for his service to this committee,” said Mr. Haslehurst, according to a statement released by the committee.

“Democracy functions best when more people participate,” he said in the statement. “We have experienced remarkable growth in membership, expanding from 75 to 107 members in the last election. This new energy gives us great momentum and will allow us to connect with our community in new ways. I look forward to continuing to work with our committee and our local and state elected officials.”

That growth did not come without some pain to longstanding members of the committee.

A contentious meeting last June at the election filing deadline came to a head as the “moderates” pressed to keep the committee numbers lower, but they were overwhelmingly voted down by voices that identify more with what’s become known as the “progressive” wing of the party.

At the time, Mr. Rego adamantly opposed the idea of labeling members of the local party as moderates, or progressives. “We’re all Democrats,” he said. “And we are going to go forward as Democrats.”

But longtime committee member and local Democratic leader Doug Gablinske was not afraid to use the p-word.

“This is not the Democratic Party I joined in the 1970s,” said Mr. Gablinske, at the time. “In the past 20 years, the party has moved so far to the left, it’s verging on Socialism.”

Mr. Gablinske would go on to resign from the party and run for the District 69 House seat as an Independent, losing to incumbent Susan Donovan, a member of the “reform caucus,” some 20 House Democrats that have united against the leadership of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello.

Kenneth Marshall, who remains the incumbent District 68 House representative with the resignation of Laufton Ascencao, has also resigned from the Democratic Party and filed to run as an Independent in the upcoming special election.

In a post on the Bristol Democrats Facebook page, Mr. Haslehurst indicates that the local party committee is looking forward, not back. “It’s an honor to have been elected to serve as the new Chair of the Bristol Democrats for the next 2 years — and even more exciting to serve with such a talented group of incredible women,” he said. “I look forward to working together and creating good, positive and lasting change for our Party and our community.”

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.