FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan revealed that he will not seek another term as the city’s chief executive in 2027.
“Time for a change,” Coogan told 12 News over the phone Thursday morning.
He explained that after his upcoming term ends, he will be done with politics altogether, which also includes his seat on the city’s School Committee. (The mayor also chairs the School Committee.)
Coogan, a Democrat, narrowly won reelection Tuesday over Republican Gabriel “Boomer” Amaral. (The race was nonpartisan.) Amaral has since requested a recount and told 12 News he’s currently gathering signatures.
READ MORE: Incumbent Paul Coogan wins Fall River mayor race
Coogan first began leading the city after defeating disgraced former Mayor Jasiel Correia in a landslide. Coogan won reelection in 2021 by beating then-City Council President Cliff Ponte, and was elected to a third term with a win over former mayor Sam Sutter in 2023.
Prior to becoming mayor, Coogan was a School Committee member and worked in the city’s public schools as a teacher for more than three decades.
Coogan’s upcoming term begins in January.
NEXT: ‘You should be covering my funeral right now’: Former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan details stabbing, urges change
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