Camara Switcheroo Proves He’s Not Eligible for Ballot [OPINION]

Fall River City Councilor Steven A. Camara denied any wrongdoing last week after I confronted his residency clarity in Fall River. He claimed 55 LeBaron Street as his primary residence despite making a Declaration for Homestead Act at his more expensive home in Westport at 38 Cherry & Webb Lane.

Yesterday, the Secretary of State confirmed that Camara changed his Homestead Act protections to 55 LeBaron Street in Fall River. Camara had the Homestead on his Westport home since 2014, but after the revelation that he may be ineligible to be on the Fall River ballot, he did the old switcharoo.

Only through a Freedom of Information Act request did the Fall River Elections Board confirm that the Registry of Motor Vehicles has informed them that Camara has re-registered his vehicle, a black Prius, from his Westport address to the Fall River one. He did that on Monday, the same day a formal challenge was made to his eligibility as a councilor.

Can you imagine that? A city councilor, who must reside in the city to be on the council, and who is getting a paycheck from the City of Fall River as a councilor, is paying his excise taxes to a town next door and since 2016, where he claims he doesn't live.

Well, where he told everyone he doesn't live, except the Registry of Deeds, where he signed a legal document promising that he did live in Westport since 2014, under pains and penalties of perjury.

CJ Ferry, a Fall River resident also running for city council, is the resident who made a formal challenge to Camara's residency to the Fall River Elections Board. The hearing took place last night. Ferry claims the Elections Commission referred it to the City's corporate counsel and former judge Joseph Macy, which Ferry says effectively killed any chance for action by the board.

Ferry wants Camara's name off the ballot if he cannot prove he was a Fall River resident when he took out nomination papers.

Fall River Board of Elections members are Chair Kelly Souza-Young, David I. Dennis and Daryl Gonyon, according to the City of Fall River's website.

Ferry will be on the air with me today at 12:30 p.m. as I fill in for Barry Richard.

Ken Pittman is the host of The Ken Pittman Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Contact him at ken.pittman@townsquaremedia.com. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.