Will Flanagan recall, Fall River, Massachusetts (2014)

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Fall River Mayor recall
Officeholders
Will Flanagan
Recall status
Recall approved
Recall election date
December 16, 2014
See also
Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2014 Recalls in Massachusetts Massachusetts recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports

An effort to recall Mayor Will Flanagan in Fall River, Massachusetts from his position was launched in August 2014. The recall election took place on December 16, 2014. Flanagan was recalled.

Election

On November 13, 2014, a judge ruled that there would be neither a primary nor a runoff for this election. Ten total candidates appeared on the recall ballot, with Flanagan at the top of the ballot following a court dispute. Sam Sutter defeated Flanagan in the recall election.

Recall proponent arguments

The supporters of this recall are targeting Flanagan over a pay-as-you-throw trash hauling program. This same group attempted to recall him in 2012. Flanagan also allegedly threatened City Councilor Jasiel Correia II with a gun.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in Massachusetts

Recall supporters needed to collect 2,459 signatures to force a recall election. A total of 3,847 were certified by the local board of elections. Once notified by the city council, Flanagan had five days to resign before a recall election is scheduled. The council had 60 days to call a recall election. The council approved an order of October 9 that scheduled a recall for December 16, but Flangan refused to sign it citing an "ethical obligation." An attorney representing Fall River said Flanagan's refusal would not change anything. The recall election took place on December 16, 2014.

Complaint trial

An expedited case to stop the recall election began on October 27, 2014. Flanagan included 15 defendants in his complaint, including city officials he appointed and recall petitioners. His lawyer, Preston Halperin, plans to argue points of law on Flanagan's behalf. The first contentious point is whether City Clerk Alison Bouchard violated the 20-day deadline for petitions when she accepted them on the 21st day because the 20th day fell on a holiday. Haperin will also argue that Board of Election Commissioners Chairwoman Elizabeth Camara should have given Flanagan nomination papers for the recall. Flanagan's name will appear on the first part of the ballot asking if he should be recalled, but petitioners sought an injunction to prevent his name from being on the list of candidates on the second part of the ballot. That injunction request was denied and Flanagan's name appeared at the top of the list of candidates.

See also

• Recall campaigns in Massachusetts
• Political recall efforts, 2014
• City council recalls