South Coast, MA — Today, prominent leaders on the South Coast, including New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, and State Senator Michael Rodrigues, endorsed Governor Healey and Lieutenant Driscoll for reelection during a morning of stops the Governor made throughout the region. The support of local leaders from the South Coast is the latest sign of building momentum for the campaign.
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration has been with New Bedford at every step in our effort to improve the quality of life of our residents,” said Mayor Mitchell. “Its partnership with my administration has helped us modernize our port, provide our children the education they deserve, make our streets safer, and contain rising living costs. I am proud to endorse Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll for re-election because neither Greater New Bedford nor Massachusetts can afford to skip a beat.”
“Fall River and the entire South Coast have seen improvements in housing development and infrastructure across the board thanks to support from the Healey-Driscoll administration,” said Mayor Coogan. “Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll have been wonderful partners in the State House, determined to bring more housing and lower costs to our region and the entire state. I’m happy to support the team in their campaign for reelection.”
“I’m grateful for Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll’s dedication to improving affordability in Fall River and across the state,” said Senator Michael Rodrigues, who represents First Bristol and Plymouth where one of today’s events took place. “I’m excited to support a team that values local partnerships and is truly invested in advancing development and growth in Massachusetts.”
“Mayor Mitchell, Mayor Coogan, Chair Rodrigues, and all our legislative partners have been instrumental to our Affordability Agenda for the entire South Coast region,” said Governor Healey. “Our work to lower energy costs, make the South Coast Rail a reality, and build new, reasonably-priced housing for residents is critical for the future of this region and our entire state. I look forward to working closely with the region in our next term to deliver more wins for the South Coast.”
“Mayor Mitchell and Mayor Coogan have championed their respective towns for years, and the region’s legislators like Chair Rodrigues have made our goal of improving quality of life for South Coast residents possible. Strong local partners are core to Massachusetts’ success,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “It’s invaluable to have the support of legislative leaders from the South Coast as partners on Beacon Hill and our reelection campaign.”
The full list of endorsers includes Mayor Jon Mitchell, Mayor Paul Coogan, State Senator Michael Rodrigues, and State Representatives Antonio Cabral, Christopher Markey, Carole Fiola, Alan Silvia, Mark Sylvia, Steven Oullette, and Christopher Hendricks, and Governor’s Councillor Joseph Ferreira.
The announcement follows visits throughout the region, including an event with Mayor Mitchell, highlighting the investment in Leonard’s Wharf Reconstruction & Expansion, which is a major boon for fishing in the region. She then made her way to the Whaling Museum for a listening session with prominent members of the legislature and business and community leaders who focus on aquaculture and agriculture on the South Coast. She ended her South Coast tour by joining Mayor Coogan and select Fall River leaders to visit a local business.
During their first term, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor have invested millions of dollars to boost housing production in the region, including over 100 new affordable housing units in New Bedford, Wareham, and Fall River made possible through HDIP grants and Affordable Housing Development Awards. They’ve also advanced key health & safety initiatives through the Public Health Excellence grant program, strengthened safety and consumer protections after the Gabriel House fire, and invested more than $22 million into strategic blue-tech and marine-tech projects.
In addition to key economic and health & safety investments, the Healey-Driscoll administration has prioritized South Coast infrastructure projects like the Route 79-Davol Street Corridor project and the launch of South Coast Rail, connecting the cities and towns of southeastern Massachusetts with passenger rail service to and from downtown Boston for the first time in 65 years.
About Maura & Kim:
Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll were elected as the first all-women executive team in the nation’s history in 2022. Since then, they’ve focused on lowering costs and making life better for every family in Massachusetts — and they are getting things done. They are running for reelection because there is a lot more to do to make life more affordable, create opportunities for all, and stand up to the damage Donald Trump is doing every single day. Join us.
You can learn more about Maura and Kim and their campaign by visiting maurahealey.com
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