Hizzoner’s dishonor doesn’t dissuade
Despite indictments, Fall River mayor lands votes
Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia is charged in two federal cases, yet is still somehow alive in his reelection bid as thousands of voters continue backing the beleaguered mayor.
“They remind me of Trump supporters,” said John Fidalgo, who owns a bookstore in Fall River. “No matter what he does or says they still support him.”
During Tuesday’s preliminary election, Correia had 2,777 votes, coming in second to school committee member Paul Coogan, who was first with 8,273 votes, according to reports. The two will square off Nov. 5.
On Wednesday, I spent some time in Fall River’s struggling downtown talking to residents who unabashedly called Correia a “crook” and others who gushed about their unw avering support for him. “I like him. I don’t care what he does. That’s his problem. I only care what he does for the city. That’s it. He’s done a good job,” said Maria Concepcion, 68, who voted for Correia this week. Rus sell Desbiens, 47, who was born and raised in Fall River, has campaigned for Correia and still supports him.
Correia has gotten new fire engines for the city, Desbiens said, and made good on his campaign promise to get rid of Fall River’s “pay as you throw” purple trash bags, which cost $10 for a five-pack. “He’s doing a good job for the city,” Desbiens told me.
As for the federal indictments, Desbiens said that’s up to the court system.
Correia wasn’t available to speak with me at City Hall Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Democrat was once seen as a rising star in Bay State politics, having been elected Fall River’s mayor in 2015 at age 23. He’s the latest scandal-plagued politician to hold onto power. Correia’s career harkens to the likes of the late Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci, who returned to the office seven years after pleading no contest to assault, and ex-Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua, who remained in office despite a litany of scandals. Earlier this month, Correia pleaded not guilty to extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars from marijuana companies looking to open shop in Fall River. Correia has also pleaded not guilty to federal charges of defrauding investors in a smartphone app he was developing to foot the bill for his lavish lifestyle.
Despite the die-hard supporters, plenty of resident’s didn’t vote for Correia.
Fall River resident Mark Goncalves called Correia a “thief.”
“The guy robbed these people,” Goncalves said.
Kathryn Pisarczyk, 70, made her way through the city’s downtown on a walker. She didn’t vote because she was worried about her voting precinct not having a ramp, but she had strong feelings about Correia, telling me, “He’s a crook.”