'The Ugliest Case of Politics I’ve Ever Seen in My Life'

Rick Correia, recent candidate for Ward Two City Council, a seat he lost against opponent Mark Cooper, is not happy about how the election was won. 

The Attleboro resident and current member of the Attleboro Redevelopment Authority said while he is happy for Mark Cooper, he is not happy about how he won the election last Tuesday. 

"What I saw from 6 in the morning to 8 p.m. Tuesday night was the ugliest case of politics I’ve ever seen in my life," Correia said. "It was horrible how this election was won."

Correia is referring to two incidents. One incident is where he was told he could not enter the polling place to get a vote count because of the state election rules that specifiy candidates must stay 150 feet away from the polling place (unless to use the restroom or get a vote count). 

"I was told I could not check the vote count. I was handicapped," he said. "Marianne Draine (Attleboro's election office manager) told me that I was not allowed to go into the building to get the vote count because I was a candidate. She said it was okay, however, for someone in my campaign to get the count and seeing as I was alone and didn't have a campaign she then suggested that Mark Cooper could send someone in to get the count and relay it back to me." 

According to the Election Division of Massachusetts Secretary William Galvin's Office, a candidate is allowed to enter the polling place to ask for a vote count. They are not allowed to "hang around" the polling place, according to Galvin's office, but they do have the right, even as the candidate, to enter the building and request a count. 

"I went on the premise that they have to stay 150 feet away," Draine said. "When I spoke with Rick, he was by himself, Mark had people holding signs and was sending people in for the count. I told Rick he could get it from Mark. It was a very casual conversation." 

Draine said she would contact the state's elections office to gather further information about the rules. 

Asked whether he would contest the election, Correia said: "Why would I want to put the city through more expense to do that?"  

"It's not in my blood or character to make a firestorm out of something," Correia said. "I don't think they did it deleiberately, but maybe they can make a correction for the next election."

The second issue that had Correia fired up was seeing City Councilors Duff White and Peter Blais and mayoral candidate Ronald Churchill hold signs in support of Cooper at the polling place, located at on Tuesday. Correia said the councilors were influencing voters.

"What I saw Tuesday left me wondering what our government is all about," he said. "They have no right to be there influencing the vote that belonged to the people of Ward 2."

Correia questioned why the two city councilors and retired Attleboro fire chief would make such a move. 

"I really don't know what it was about, maybe it was to send a message to Mayor [Kevin] Dumas," he said. 

 "I like both men and it was a tough decision, but Mark Cooper is a moderate with his thinking and I like him for that," Churchill explained. "He will be a councilor who is not one to follow the crowd, but think for himself." 

Councilors White and Blais did not respond to requests for comment. 

Also called into question by Correia is Cooper's Independent status. 

"I believe that by Mark Cooper aligning himself with city councilors before being elected to be city councilor, does not show he is an independent thinker," Correia said. "I would be willing to say that if you look at some of the players on the Attleboro City Council you will see a real allegiance with them or them forming one with Cooper."

Cooper could not be reached for comment. 

Correia said he sees a "silver lining" in all of the negative issues surrounding his experience with the election. First of all, he will not have to step down from the ARA. Secondly, everyone can learn from what happened.

"I will be best served by a lesson being learned and don't think it would change the outcome of the election," Correia said. "This community needs to learn how to work together."