An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion , which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
William A. Flanagan | |
|---|---|
| 42nd Mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts | |
| In office January 4, 2010 –December 29, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Correia |
| Succeeded by | Sam Sutter |
William A. Flanagan is an American politician who served as the mayor of Fall River,Massachusetts,from January 4,2010,to December 29,2014.
Flanagan won the 2009 mayoral election and took office in January 2010 after a campaign that produced an upset victory in the runoff election. [1]
In late 2014,local coverage described Flanagan's second term as dominated by a series of political disputes and setbacks that culminated in a recall drive. Issues that year included clashes with the city council over the city's tourism/economic development post,escalating public acrimony on social media among recall organisers and supporters,and a high-profile allegation from freshman councillor Jasiel Correia that the mayor had tried to intimidate him with a handgun,an allegation Flanagan denied. The Bristol County District Attorney referred the matter to a special prosecutor and a police investigation began;later that month Flanagan's attorney announced he had taken and passed a private polygraph examination. [2] [3] [4]
The two-question recall election was held on December 16,2014. Voters approved the recall and then elected Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter to serve the remainder of the term;Flanagan conceded that night. A special prosecutor later concluded in May 2015 that the evidence was insufficient to bring criminal charges arising from the 2014 intimidation allegation. [2] [5]
Sam Sutter won the recall contest and replaced Flanagan as mayor following the December 2014 election.
After leaving office,Flanagan remained active locally. In December 2024,he switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican,citing disagreements with the Democratic Party on issues such as abortion,national security,and what he described as "woke policies." [6] In May 2025,local media reported that he had been cast in a small role in a regional motion-picture production. [7]