MAYOR

Fall River City Council Votes No Confidence in Embattled Mayor

A Massachusetts city council reportedly passed a no confidence vote on the city's mayor following his arrest on federal fraud charges last month.

Fall River city councilors passed a no confidence resolution in an 8-1 vote rebuking embattled Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia on Tuesday, WJAR reports.

During a special meeting, the councilors reportedly discussed removing Correia temporarily, replacing him with City Council President Cliff Ponte, who would serve as acting mayor.

City Councillor Derek Viveiros didn't state whether Correia should remain in office or be removed but did state that Correia's federal charges put the city and its residents in an unfair position, according to WJAR.

Ultimately, the vote to remove Correia failed.

Correia was arrested last month on fraud charges after allegedly using more than $230,000 of investor funds on his campaign and a lavish lifestyle.

The process to recall the 26-year-old mayor was started by 10 Fall River residents in mid-October as city councilors postponed a vote to remove Correia from office.

The vote asking Correia to resign as mayor passed, but the mayor referred to the charges as "politically motivated" and has refused to step down.

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