William A. Flanagan
William A. Flanagan is the former mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts. He was elected Mayor in 2009 with more than 60% of the vote. He was reelected in 2011 against challenger Cathy Ann Viveiros with 60% of the vote and again on Nov. 5, 2013 against challenger Joseph Carvalho; winning 69% of the popular vote and taking all 29 of Fall River's precincts.
As Mayor, Flanagan finalized the long-awaited agreement with UMass Dartmouth to create a Fall River BioPark, and brought as many as 8,000 jobs to Fall River. He also brought TPI Composites, a green innovation company, back to Fall River and crafted new partnerships with Bristol Community College and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth to expand workforce training programs.
Flanagan graduated from Diman Vocational High School, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and Roger Williams University School of Law. During law school, he interned in Taunton's legal department. He went on to serve as the assistant attorney for Taunton, advising the city's mayor, council, department heads, and police and fire chiefs. Following his service in Taunton, Flanagan joined the office of Bristol County District Attorney as an assistant district attorney.
Flanagan lost his seat on December 16, 2014 to Bristol County District Attorney Samuel Sutter and was removed from office after 70% of voters chose to recall the Mayor and he placed second the eight-way contest that followed. The recall election was the first successful recall election within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.