Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia Again Finds A Way To Survive

FALL RIVER, MA — He's proven it twice now. It's going to take more than arrests and federal charges to keep the people of Fall River from voting for Jasiel Correia. The embattled yet defiant 27-year-old mayor of the old mill city in southeastern Massachusetts finished in second place in a preliminary election Tuesday night. That earned him a spot on the Nov. 5 ballot against School Committee member Paul Coogan, who finished first overall Tuesday.

There are indications Correia's star might be waning. Coogan earned 8,273 votes, while Correia got 2,777, according to unofficial results.

Two weeks ago, Correia was arrested for the second time in a year and accused of extorting marijuana vendors for cash. Correia was arrested in October and on accusations of wire and tax fraud. He pleaded not guilty to all 22 charges.

Correia was voted out of office last week by the City Council, but he has refused to step down.

In March, Fall River residents opted to remove Correia in a recall election — but the following question was who should replace Correia, who found his way onto that same ballot along with four other candidates. Correia, despite essentially being recalled immediately before, won that election as the other candidates split votes.

Corriea assumed office in 2016, becoming the youngest mayor in city history at age 24.