NEW BEDFORD - A New Bedford School Committee member is calling for the public to demand Mayor Jon Mitchell's resignation.

John Oliveira, who was sworn into his position on the School Committee earlier this month, posted a status update to his personal Facebook page Thursday morning saying "Citizens it is time to stand together and demand the mayors resignation Jon Mitchell has hijacked the Democratic process".

John Oliveira/Facebook
John Oliveira/Facebook
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Oliveira declined further comment on the post.

Oliveira claims Mitchell "hijacked" the process of searching for a new superintendent for New Bedford Public Schools after the Committee approved a seven-member screening committee in December of 2017. At Monday night's School Committee meeting, Oliveira said there was no discussion about Mitchell's recommendations for the screening committee, and further implied that Mitchell had already selected a final candidate for the superintendent position.

Mayor Jon Mitchell has not yet responded to a request for comment on Oliveira's post. However, Mitchell made it quite clear on his weekly program on WBSM that Oliveira has not displayed behavior that is becoming of a school committee member.

The School Committee voted 6-1 in favor of continuing a No Trespass Order against Oliveira. The order was first requested by Superintendent Dr. Pia Durkin after Oliveira admittedly became irate and extremely vocal as he tried on two occasions in November to meet with Dr. Durkin.

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