Brewer's legal bills, spending questioned

Brewer's legal bills, spending questioned

Kerry O'Brien
News Staff Writer

GARDNER — In recent days, following questions raised by local media outlets and Senate hopeful James Ehrhard, state Sen. Stephen Brewer, D-Barre has declined to provide details regarding $35,000 in legal bills incurred between July 2012 and January 2013.

The costs, according to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign & Political Finance, are associated with fees incurred while soliciting legal advice from Boston firm Ropes & Gray LLC.

According to a representative of Sen. Brewer’s office, the legal fees fall within acceptable use of campaign funds and the release of additional details is not required by law.


“(Sen. Brewer) is declining to comment on specifically what the legal services were obtained for beyond the fact that it is an allowable expense,” said legislative aide Meghan Kelly.

In a written statement provided to The Gardner News on Nov. 25, the senator noted, a benefit of the “myriad of responsibilities” he faces in his role is the ability to seek “impartial and independent” legal counsel, a stance with which Mr. Ehrhard, as a state Senate candidate, disagrees.

“If Mr. Brewer felt it appropriate to use campaign funds to pay for such legal advice, he cannot in good faith hide behind such privilege when asked what the nature of the advice is,” Mr. Ehrhard said.

In addition to legal consultation, according to campaign and political finance reports, Sen. Brewer has raised a total of $142,890.  Approximately 22 percent, or $6,737, of his total expenditures have been used on hotel stays and dining.

Regarding questions on the necessity of such spending, Sen. Brewer also provided a written statement.

“As the Chair of Senate Ways and Means I often work very long and gruesome hours,” he said.

“Sometimes after these long days and late nights I will go on Hotwire and find a hotel for the night.”

Sen. Brewer has been a legislator since 1988 and a senator since 1996.

He currently represents the Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex Senate District with his term expiring next November.

Mr. Ehrhard, a bankruptcy and general litigation lawyer for the firm of Ehrhard & Associates P.C., officially announced his candidacy in October.