'Boomer' Amaral seeks recount in Fall River mayoral race
Mayoral candidate Gabriel “Boomer” Amaral has initiated the recount process following his close defeat to incumbent Mayor Paul Coogan in the recent Fall River election. The recount request was filed on Wednesday, October 5, after official results showed Amaral trailing by 225 votes.
Close race and motivation
Amaral, a military veteran making his first foray into politics, ran an energetic campaign focused on crime, business growth, and transparency in city government. Coogan secured 5,841 votes, while Amaral received 5,616.
“There’s things you want to check,” Amaral said outside the Elections Office in Government Center. “Not that I don’t trust the elections office, but I ran on the simple fact that I don’t trust the administration. I don’t trust the people they surround themselves with. So I’m going to question it and verify it.”
Recount procedure
According to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, Amaral must formally petition the Fall River Election Commission. He is also required to collect notarized signatures from at least ten registered voters in each of the city’s nine wards. These voters must attest that they have reason to believe the election records may contain errors and that a recount could affect the outcome.
Election results context
Mayor Paul Coogan was re-elected to a fourth term, though voter support was notably lower compared to his previous campaigns.
Author’s summary
Gabriel “Boomer” Amaral’s recount bid highlights a razor-thin contest in Fall River and reflects his campaign’s continuing focus on oversight and accountability in local government.