6th Bristol State Representative Carole Fiola has come out in support of the recommendation of a legislative panel to place Fall River entirely within the 4th Congressional District served by Congressman Jake Auchincloss.
Reaction to the proposed congressional district is mixed, with Congressman Auchincloss in favor of the legislature’s plan and Congressmen Bill Keating joining others in recommending Fall River be joined in a congressional district with New Bedford.
State Senators Michael Rodrigues, who represents Fall River, Mark Montigny, who serves New Bedford and Fall River State Representative Alan Silvia are among those in favor of merging Fall River and New Bedford into one district.
Currently, Fall River is split between districts of Auchincloss and Keating.
Here is the statement released today by Representative Fiola, which includes a list of other local political and community leaders in favor of the current proposal:
Fall River Support For A Unified Fall River in Proposed Congressional Map
After six months, 20 public hearings, and hundreds of residents testifying, the Joint Committee on Redistricting has released its proposed new maps, and Fall River is no longer divided. Senator Will Brownsberger and State Representative Mike Moran, Redistricting Committee Co-Chairs, led a transparent, thoughtful congressional redistricting process.
There were 20 hearings, where residents and communities weighed in, and the committee heard repeatedly that Fall River is best represented as a unified city.
After two decades of waiting, this map honors that imperative. Fall River will be the biggest city in the Massachusetts Fourth and will no longer stand in any community’s shadow or be second to another community’s needs — it will stand as its own city, not as part of a region, and will be front and center for its US Representative to champion.
The current congressman, Jake Auchincloss, has already built strong relationships here and advocated effectively for funding for Fall River’s water infrastructure, urban renewal, and public safety. He has been visible in our city, and he has delivered quality constituent services.
As we have successfully advocated in bringing wind energy to the South Coast, South Coast Rail to fruition along with our developing waterfronts and the blue economy among other projects, we are best served to continue to work with our neighboring South Coast communities with the strength of two strong congressional voices.
We are excited for all of Fall River to be in the MA-4.
Here is a partial list of the growing strong support for the proposed 4th Congressional District:
Mayor Paul Coogan
Fall River Resident
State Representative Carole Fiola
6th Bristol
Fall River Resident
State Representative Pat Haddad
4th Congressional District Resident
Cliff Ponte, Jr
Fall River City Council President
Fall River Resident
Linda Pereira
Fall River City Council
Fall River Resident
Mark Costa
Fall River School Committee Vice Chair
Fall River Resident
Tom Khoury
Fall River School Committee
Fall River Resident
John Mitchell
Bristol County Commissioner and Former Mayor of Fall River
Fall River Resident
BJ McDonald
Register of Deeds, Fall River District
Fall River Resident
Former State Senator Joan Menard
Fall River Resident
Nick Christ
President and CEO BayCoast Bank
Michael Lund
Owner, Borden Light Marina/Pier 52
Fall River Resident
Ron Rusin
Owner, ReMax Right Choice
Fall River Resident
Ken Fiola
Executive Vice President, Bristol County Economic Development Consultants
Fall River Resident
Joan Medeiros
Fall River Resident
Frank Marcchione
Owner Board Walk Plaza Fall River
Joe Constancia
Laborers Local 610
Anthony Cordeiro
AFC Insurance and Property Developer
Fall River Resident
Gerald Donovan
President, G and J Properties Fall River
Fall River Resident
Natalie Melo
President, Bank Street Neighborhood Association
Fall River Resident
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