O’Connell Elected Mayor of Taunton

TAUNTON — Shaunna O'Connell has been elected as the first female mayor in the history of Taunton.

O'Connell, a Republican and sitting State Representative of the Third Bristol District, defeated sitting City Councilwoman Estele Borges. There were 10,800 votes cast for mayor, with a turnout of about 32 percent of eligible voters. O’Connell earned 62 percent of the votes, compared to 36 percent for Borges.

“There are so many wonderful things to accomplish here,” O’Connell told WBSM following her win. “We’re going to turn this from a gateway city to the leading city in the Commonwealth. We’ve got so much support. We’re going to do great things here.”

It's not the first time O'Connell has defeated Borges; the two faced off in the race for the state rep seat back in 2017.

“Anyone who throws their hat in the ring deserves kudos,” O’Connell said of her Democrat opponent. “I’m very honored that the people spoke really loud tonight. They were looking for a mayor with a positive vision, and I have that vision.”

O'Connell succeeds former Mayor Thomas Hoye, who stepped down from the corner office after he was appointed Bristol County Register of Probate by Governor Charlie Baker back in August.