When a State Representative disappears
Chris Flanagan, in a very bad spot of his own making, should resign
We are all presumed innocent unless proven otherwise, despite what President Trump might think.
But that doesn’t mean an elected representative, under indictment for wire fraud and falsifying records, who admits fabricating a donor to launder money into his election campaign, should use this legal cloak to hunker down, hide, and remain in office.
State Representative Chris Flanagan from the First Barnstable District — Brewster, Dennis, and part of Yarmouth — is doing just that, which means he cannot do his job. Yet he has not resigned. Neither has he addressed the charges against him, nor explained why he feels he can and should remain State Representative.
If there is one State House moment when the political rubber hits the road, it’s sausage-making known as the budget. This is when priorities translate into bucks: What will get funded and how much? What projects and benefits can a Rep or Senator deliver? Where’s the clout, influence, proof of personal persuasion and advocacy? In short, where’s the bacon?
Flanagan did not propose a single amendment to this year’s budget, the mechanism to introduce funding for his district. He did not show up to vote for or against any aspect of it. As far as I can tell, he has not set foot in the State House for a long, long time.
Given this, to say a State Representative should resign has nothing to do with disrespecting the presumption of innocence. It’s acknowledging that his constituents have no voice. It’s respecting the office.
Flanagan pleaded not guilty to federal charges he siphoned money out of the Home Builders Association of Cape Cod, where he was executive officer from 2019-2024 while also serving as Dennis selectman, then State Representative.
According to the federal indictment, he was making between $65,000 and $80,000 a year at the association, plus nearly $100,000 a year as State Representative. Even so, he allegedly set up work debits to pay for personal expenses, doctoring books, faking expense reports, even using home builder funds to pay for “personal psychic services,” whatever the hell that might mean.
Flanagan also invented a political donor, “Jeanne Louise,” using that name to funnel $10,000 (presumably home builder funds) into his political campaign to pay for direct mail to a swath of voters (supposedly coming from a group of “conservative” Dennis supporters). Before depositing that $10,000 he reportedly had $42.28 in his campaign coffers; the mailer presumably helped him win election to his first term.
In October, 2023, it was revealed that Flanagan admitted to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance he invented the woman and the “conservative” organization. It took until April, 2025 for the feds to show up at his house with a warrant on a range of charges.
Telltale fingerprints of personal tragedy tattoo this, a man gone off the rails for reasons we do not understand — and I will not speculate about. He served well as a Dennis selectman, a not-yet-40 father of three who has had heart surgery (according to his attorney) and reportedly faces other family health issues. His public salary is his only visible means of support, which includes health insurance. Resignation would strip this away, an obvious familial/financial argument to hang on as long as possible.
He does so despite calls to leave office from leaders in his Democratic Party (among others). Governor Maura Healey minced no words: “He should resign.” State Senators Julian Cyr and Dylan Fernandes, who represent the Cape (Cyr for Flanagan’s district), also were clear. So too was Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois, whose office is not directly involved because this is a federal prosecution (disclosure: I work with DA Galibois on community engagement apart from legal proceedings). The Brewster selectboard agreed.
Flanagan hangs on mainly because House leadership, Speaker Ron Mariano and Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, have indicated they will wait for a verdict before opining further — so far. From a legal perspective this is justifiable, even commendable. But that leaves the First Barnstable District without representation, as important in a democracy as due process.
Perhaps this could have been different had Flanagan continued to advocate, stayed engaged or even effective at the State House, made a public case why he still deserves support. None of that has happened.
Chris Flanagan’s two-year term would carry him through 2026. He is not a lame duck; his political wound is mortal. We hope he and his family make their way back from this precipice, but resignation (and a special election) is the right way forward for the district.
Haven’t subscribed yet? No time like the present. Support good reporting, strong perspectives, unique Cape Cod takes every week — and keep seeing a Voice. All that for far less than a cup of coffee. So please subscribe:
https://sethrolbein.substack.com/welcome
And if you are into Instagram, want to see some additional material, maybe share the work, here you go:
Thank you for the information, definitely important to know.
Thank you for this information