In choosing to run the anti-Linda McMahon, pro-Rob Simmons column titled "McMahon's fantasy campaign," published May 16, it is alarming that the editor failed to note one very important fact: The author, Ben Davol, has been paid more than $8,000 in political consulting fees by Simmons, according to federal elections reports. The editor's failure to note this blatant conflict for the benefit of readers is troubling.

Equally troubling was Mr. Davol's patently false claim that Ms. McMahon contributed $10,000 to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's leadership PAC. Mr. Davol has every right to shill for Simmons as payback for thousands of dollars in payments; however, he is not entitled to invent facts out of whole cloth.

Linda McMahon is running for Senate because she believes voters deserve something different than the same old career politicians. She brings to this race badly needed real-world business experience and a track record of creating nearly 600 Connecticut jobs. As an outsider challenging the establishment, Ms. McMahon expects career politicians to say or do anything to gain political advantage.

The Day's failure to note Mr. Davol's financial ties to Mr. Simmons, however, and its attempt to showcase the author as an objective political observer, displays a troubling lack of journalistic propriety. Readers deserve more, and The Day should have known better.

The writer is communications director, Linda McMahon for Senate 2010.

Editor's note: From 1999-2001, Ben Davol's consulting firm received about $8,100 for consulting work from the Simmons campaign in connection with Rob Simmons' 2000 campaign for Congress. While Mr. Davol previously disclosed in a Jan. 24 commentary that he worked for the Simmons campaign in 2000, The Day agrees that disclosure should have been repeated in his May 16 commentary as well.

As for the $10,000 donation, Mr. Davol stands corrected - the money did not go to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's PAC specifically, but to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Mr. Davol no longer works as a political organizer or consultant. He writes guest commentaries for The Day, but is not employed by the newspaper.