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Dan Freitas recall, Fairhaven, Massachusetts (2021)
| Fairhaven Selectman recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| July 26, 2021 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Massachusetts Massachusetts recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
Voters in Fairhaven, Massachusetts recalled Selectman Dan Freitas on July 26, 2021, and elected Stasia Powers to fill the vacancy on the board.[1]
Organizers said that they were attempting to recall Freitas because of abusive and disruptive behavior. They also alleged that Freitas had circumvented the standard process for selecting a new town administrator in order to advance an insider candidate. Freitas denied the allegations and said that the recall attempt was a smear campaign against him.[2][3]
Recall vote
Yes/no recall question
Voters were asked whether they were for or against the recall of Select Board Member Dan Freitas.[4]
Dan Freitas recall, 2021
Dan Freitas lost the Fairhaven Select Board recall election on July 26, 2021.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✖ | Yes |
81.9
|
1,906 | ||
No |
18.1
|
421 | |||
Total Votes |
2,327 | ||||
|
|
Replacement question
Voters were also asked to select a candidate to fill the vacant seat on the board, should the recall have passed.[4]
General election
General election for Fairhaven Select Board
Stasia Powers defeated Leon Correy III and Cameron Durant in the general election for Fairhaven Select Board on July 26, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Stasia Powers (Nonpartisan) | 35.6 | 809 | |
| Leon Correy III (Nonpartisan) | 34.6 | 785 | ||
| Cameron Durant (Nonpartisan) | 29.1 | 660 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 17 | ||
| Total votes: 2,271 | |||
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Recall supporters
The recall petition gave the following grounds for recall.[2]
| “ | For conduct unbecoming an elected official: (i.e. abusive treatment of fellow board members, constituents, and employees); for behavior that is disruptive to meetings (i.e. abandoning meetings); for placing personal relationships and agenda over public interest (i.e. Town Administrator hiring); and for behavior that prompted consideration of criminal charges (i.e. July 1, 2020 incident regarding alleged assault and battery).[5] | ” |
Recall opponents
Freitas gave the following response to the recall attempt on his Facebook page.[3]
| “ | I have received numerous calls today from people who cannot believe I am being recalled. We have a small group of people in town who have spread numerous lies about me. I cannot and will not spend my days on Facebook defending myself. For the past 3 years the Neighborhood News has written many, many false stories about me in her "editorial". I don't have the time to stop what I am doing and respond to all her lies! If the people of this town truly believe that I have done what they claim then why have you elected and re-elected me to the BPW and Selectmen position over and over. I can say that when they are done with this smear campaign they will be moving on to Peter Deterra and Mike Ristuccia and then probably Keith Silvia. They know that they can't beat me in an election so this is what they have left. If they do get the signatures needed I will resign. I will not run for re-election. I have given a large portion of my adult life to helping the people in this town! I have grown tired of the constant smear campaign from the people who are former town employees who have been fired from the town or left because they their actions would have gotten them fired. Please, they say that I treat the employees terribly! All you have to do is call the town hall and ask any employee if I treat them poorly. Walk in and ask. This whole thing is being done because I will not do as they want and remove the Interim Town Administrator who is doing a spectacular job! This will be the only time I defend myself against the lies being told. Think before you sign![5] | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Massachusetts
According to the Fairhaven town code, organizers were required to gather signatures from 20% of registered voters as of the preceding town election.[6] The deadline for submitting petitions to the town clerk was April 27, 2021.[7]
The Fairhaven Board of Registrars certified 2,521 signatures, which allowed the recall to proceed.[8] The recall election took place on July 26, 2021.[4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Fairhaven, Massachusetts, "Stasia Powers Wins Recall/Special Election 2021," July 26, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Recall Dan Freitas, "Town of Fairhaven Recall Petition," accessed April 23, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Facebook, "Daniel Freitas, Fairhaven Selectman," April 15, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Fairhaven, Massachusetts, "Special Town Election 2021," accessed July 2, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ eCode360, "Town of Fairhaven, MA Division 1, Chapter A502-4," accessed April 23, 2021
- ↑ South Coast Today, "Why these Fairhaven residents are trying to recall Selectman Daniel Freitas," April 23, 2021
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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