When Fall River voters head to the polls on November 5 they will be asked to pick between two candidates to serve as a member of the Governor’s Council.
The Council meets weekly to approve payments to the state payroll and bills and the governor’s appointments of judges, clerk-magistrates, public administrators, members of the Parole Board, Appellate Tax Board, Industrial Accident Board and Industrial Accident Reviewing Board, notaries, and justices of the peace. It also approves pardons and commutations recommended by the governor.
Fall River sits within Governor’s Council District 1 and runs from northern Bristol and Plymouth Counties east through Cape Cod and the Islands.
Democrat Joseph Ferreira of Somerset is the incumbent seeking his sixth two-year term. He is a former Somerset police chief and has practiced law for 30 year. He says the state has a structured process to help the governor select qualified judicial appointees. He wants to continue to use his position to promote judicial appointees from Southeastern Massachusetts.
Mr. Ferreira has served during the administrations of former Governor Charlie Baker and current Governor Maura Healey. He sees that relationship as valuable to the district.
Mr. Ferreira is opposed by independent candidate Krysten Condon. The Wareham resident is a practicing attorney in Plymouth County and this is her first run for political office. She wants to take politics out of the judicial appointment process. She says one way to do that is to look beyond just the qualifications of an appointment.
If elected, Ms. Condon says will collaborate with the seven other councilors and the governor while maintaining her independent voice.
You can watch our full interviews with the candidates by visiting our Election 2024 webpage.
