According to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce asked for and received the resignation of Darlene Hayes today. Ms. Hayes was a longtime business member and a member of the Board of Directors.
In a June 5 article, HopNews identified Ms. Hayes as having used more than 24 pseudonyms to make comments on HopNews and the Hopkinton Independent, many in the run-up to the May 15 School Committee election. The Hopkinton Independent followed up with a story several hours later confirming the same.
>> RELATED: Chair of HDTC Used 24 Pseudonyms to Stoke Debate
This is Hayes’ second resignation in as many days. Yesterday, executive members of the Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee announced that Ms. Hayes had resigned as their chair. Their statement read in part “Like many residents of Hopkinton, we were surprised and disappointed to read this morning about the online activities of our colleague and friend Darlene Hayes.”
While the Chamber has yet to issue a formal statement, they have updated their website, removing any mention of Hayes or her business, Hayes Event Management.
Good riddance
It makes me wonder; How many past, local elections have been tainted by the scurrilous social media activities recently uncovered by HOPNEWS?
I speculate Darlene was in cahoots with others in town including elected officials.
An investigation should be happening!
Agreed SA. It may not rise to this level but maybe the Secretary of State should take a peek.
According to her Public LinkedIn profile, Ms. Hayes still has a lot of resignations due. How did this person put it over on Hopkinton and become a member of so many town boards? She has nothing impressive at all as far as qualifications, and really only highlights her service to Hopkinton. Ms. Hayes, you should scrub social media of your name/town affiliations, too. It is now a falsification of the truth for future customers or employers. Further deceit. Will you let your new potential clients know that you have twenty-four known personalities? Existing clients? Many already do know. We are still waiting for a public apology for the laws you may have violated during the campaigns you fixed, and for being an overall fraud and bully. That would be the classy way to put this behind you.
NAME: Chris Swezey
What has happened can be looked at as election interference. Freedom House has listed three types of election interference. One of which is informational measures ,in which online discussions are surreptitiously manipulated in favor of the government or particular parties or persons ,or to discredit a particular party or persons. Town leaders should be looking closely at the events that have unfolded the past few days and at minimum make a statement.
Well said Chris