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Shaunna O'Connell

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Shaunna O'Connell
51st Mayor of Taunton
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2020
Preceded byThomas Hoye
In office
January 2011 – January 6, 2020
Preceded byJames H. Fagan
Succeeded byCarol Doherty
Personal details
Born (1970-03-14) March 14, 1970 (age 54)
Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.[1]
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTed O'Connell
Children2
Residence(s)Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma mater
OccupationFreelance Court Reporter

Shaunna O'Connell is an American politician from Taunton, Massachusetts. A Republican, she currently serves as the 51st Mayor of Taunton, having served in office since January 2020. O’Connell was previously a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, serving in that office from 2011 until 2020 and representing the Third Bristol District.

Early life and education

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O'Connell grew up in Taunton to divorced parents who ended up on housing assistance to meet family expenses. She worked her way through college by working two jobs. She worked in the food service department of the Morton Hospital and Medical Center, working her way up to a supervisory position.[2]

O'Connell attended the Massachusetts Bay Community College (Wellesley, Massachusetts) and Massasoit Community College (Brockton, Massachusetts).

Political career

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O'Connell launched her first state representative campaign against incumbent Democratic state representative James Fagan in June 2009,[3] citing comments Fagan made in 2008 during a debate on a child sexual assault bill[4] as her inspiration to run. She defeated Fagan in the 2010 general election by 44 votes on election day,[5] prompting a recount.[6] She held on in the recount, with her margin of victory narrowing by only 13 votes and winning by 31 votes.[7]

O'Connell won re-election in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018, facing a Democratic opponent in each election. In 2019, O'Connell ran for Mayor of Taunton and won, becoming the 50th mayor and first female mayor in Taunton's history.[8] She faced controversy at the start of her mayoral campaign,[9] with CommonWealth Magazine reporting that Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito had given O'Connell notice that incumbent Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye would not run for re-election.[10]

Personal life

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O'Connell and her husband, Ted, have two daughters.[11] In June 2023, their younger daughter went missing from an addiction and mental health treatment center in Hilliard, Ohio. She was found in Columbus four days later.[12]

On July 22, 2024, O'Connell was arraigned on charges of assault and battery on a household member and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after she allegedly bit and struck her husband with a crowbar during an argument at their home on July 19. Her attorney entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf and she was released on personal recognizance.[11]

Electoral history

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Taunton Mayoral General Election 2023
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shaunna O'Connell 5,276 58.7 −3.7
Democratic Edward A.Correira 3,673 40.1
Total votes 9,152 98
Republican hold
Taunton Mayoral General Election 2021
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shaunna O'Connell 4,369 62.4 +0.4
Write-In Write-Ins 257 3.7
Blanks 2,376 33.9
Total votes 7,002 100
Republican hold
Taunton Mayoral General Election 2019
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shaunna O'Connell 6,696 62
Democratic Estele C.Borges 3,888 36
Total votes 10,800 98
Republican gain from Democratic
Massachusetts State Representative 3rd Bristol District, 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shaunna O'Connell 8,334 61.5 +2.9
Democratic Estele C.Borges 5,215 38.5 −2.8
Total votes 14,219 100
Republican hold
Massachusetts State Representative 3rd Bristol District, 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shaunna O'Connell 10,520 58.6 −2.7
Democratic Estele C.Borges 7,417 41.3 +2.7
Total votes 18,942 99.9
Republican hold
Massachusetts State Representative 3rd Bristol District, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shaunna O'Connell 6,824 61.3 +4.9
Democratic Keavin P.Duffy,Jr 4,300 38.6 −4.9
Total votes 11,637 99.9
Republican hold
Massachusetts State Representative 3rd Bristol District, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Shaunna O'Connell 9,434 56.4 +6.3
Democratic Sherry Costa-Hanlon 7,274 43.5 −6.4
Total votes 18,069 99.9
Republican hold
Massachusetts State Representative 3rd Bristol District, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James H.Fagan 5,694 49.9 −49
Republican Shaunna O'Connell 5,725 50.1 +50.1
Total votes 11,917 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

References

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  1. ^ "History of Women in the Massachusetts Legislature 1923-present" (PDF). Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  2. ^ "O'Connell Goes Door to Door to Talk with Constituents". Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  3. ^ "OCPF - OCPF: Registered Filers". www.ocpf.us. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  4. ^ "Massachusetts Lawmaker's Pledge to 'Rip Apart' Child Rape Victims at Trial Draws Fury". Fox News. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  5. ^ Tuoti, Gerry. "Republican Shaunna O'Connell ousts Taunton Rep. James Fagan". The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  6. ^ Tuoti, Gerry. "PARTY LINES: Fagan, O'Connell file dueling recount requests". The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  7. ^ Tuoti, Gerry. "Shauna O'Connell holds on in Third Bristol House District recount". The Herald News, Fall River, MA. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  8. ^ "Shaunna O'Connell makes history, wins Taunton mayoral race". WPRI.com. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  9. ^ Mohl, Bruce (2019-09-17). "O'Connell has a leg up in Taunton race". CommonWealth Magazine. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  10. ^ Service, Katie LannanState House News. "State official suspicious of 'deal' between Taunton Mayor Hoye, guv and O'Connell". The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  11. ^ a b "Taunton mayor charged with A&B with dangerous weapon (a crowbar). What court records say". The Taunton Daily Gazette. July 22, 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Riley O'Connell, missing daughter of Taunton Mayor Shaunna O'Connell, found safe in Ohio". WBZ. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
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