Here’s what Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia II said in announcing his leave of absence
"This announcement allows for the voters, who will take to the polls, the chance to evaluate candidates on policies and platforms, not headlines."
Embattled Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia II said Tuesday that he will take a step back from his mayoral duties through the end of his term in January and will suspend his re-election bid.
The 27-year-old Democrat said he will forgo his campaign in next month’s general election and will take a “temporary absence” from his responsibilities as the city’s chief executive.
Correia, who will continue to take his $119,000 annual salary in the interim, will see out the end of his term on Jan. 1, 2020.
City Council President Cliff Ponte will handle the mayor’s tasks during the absence, he said.
“I will focus the remaining time and attention on championing and supporting many of the impactful social programs that I’ve established during my administration,” Correia told reporters. “Today’s announcement provides the City of Fall River an opportunity to build on the successes and accomplishments of my administration without any distraction. This announcement allows for the voters, who will take to the polls, the chance to evaluate candidates on policies and platforms, not headlines.”
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Tuesday’s announcement was the latest installment in a turbulent year in office for Correia, who was first elected in 2015.
In 2018, federal authorities first arrested Correia on charges alleging he falsified his tax returns and spent over $230,000 he collected from investors of his SnoOwl mobile app on a Mercedes, student loan payments, casino visits, and adult entertainment.
In March, Correia was recalled and re-elected as mayor on the same night, and last month, federal agents arrested him a second time, alleging Correia extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from marijuana vendors seeking to open businesses in Fall River.
Correia has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Last month, the City Council voted to temporarily remove Correia from office, but a Bristol Superior Court judge ruled last week that officials do not have the authority to oust Correia under the city’s charter.
In September, Correia advanced to the Nov. 5 general election after placing second in a preliminary election, garnering just over 20 percent of the vote, behind Paul Coogan, with 62.3 percent.
Correia did not mention his ongoing legal troubles in his remarks Tuesday, nor did he answer questions from reporters.
He instead touted the work of his administration to improve the city, pointing to the growth of the city’s stabilization account, the flourishing of downtown businesses, and efforts to combat the opioid crisis, including the creation of a program to connect overdose victims with recovery resources.
“For every elected official, the goal is to leave the community in which they served a little bit better than when they found it,” Correia said. “I’m very proud to say I have done just that for Fall River.”
He said the city “must have an opportunity to continue to thrive and build upon the solid foundation and framework without distraction.”
“I will never waiver in my commitment to the people of Fall River — today is not goodbye. It’s far from it,” Correia said. “Whether serving in an official capacity as an elected official or not, I will continue to fight every day to improve the lives of every resident of the great City of Fall River and I fully expect to lead this city on the rise once again in the future.”
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