Fall River City Councilor Announces Run for Mayor
FALL RIVER — City Council President Cliff Ponte has announced he will be running for Fall River Mayor against current mayor Paul Coogan this upcoming election in November.
Ponte was acting mayor from October 2019 through early January 2020, after former mayor Jasiel Correia was indicted on corruption charges.
Mayor Paul Coogan took over on Jan. 6, 2020.
Ponte, a real estate broker and business owner, was first elected to Fall River's City Council in 2016.
He made the announcement Wednesday afternoon at the Rt. 6 Al Mac's Diner, which he owns.
"Our city is at a crossroads," Ponte told the crowd. "Our choice is to keep our ship of state in the harbor, tied to a dock, while others venture forth seeking opportunity and prosperity — or to move forward on a new, exciting journey that will make Fall River the vibrant city that we all know it can be."
"I believe we can forge a new day for our city," he added.