While the Fall River City Council has set a March 12th date to hold a recall election to oust indicted Mayor Jasiel Correia from office, Correia holds the power to veto that vote. City Clerk Alison Bouchard tells FRC Media News that Correia has until Monday to do so. If he does, then the recall process will not proceed, and further council action will be necessary. If the mayor takes no action, the order will go into effect in ten days. The vote to approve was 8 to 1 with Councilor Steve Camara voting no.
The recall election idea was sparked by a group of residents concerned that Correia is not an “effective leader” in the face of a 13 count federal indictment was lodged against him in October. The group gathered over 4 thousand certified signatures from registered voters of which 2,510 were necessary for the city to move forward with a recall.
While Board of Elections Chair Kelly Souza-Young certified the signatures, she recused herself in further board meetings concerning this matter since she was appointed to that position by the mayor. In a previous discussion with FRC Media News she said she recused herself so as not to muddy the perception of the public in her role as board chair.
Slider photo by Donna Motta: (Recall group member Sheri MaCallister)
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