Shaunna O'Connell

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.

Shaunna O'Connell
51st Mayor of Taunton
Assumed office
January 6, 2020
Preceded byThomas Hoye
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 3rd Bristol district
In office
January 2011 – January 6, 2020
Preceded byJames H. Fagan
Succeeded byCarol Doherty
Personal details
Born (1970-03-14) March 14, 1970
Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.[1]
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTed O'Connell
Children2
Residence(s)Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma materMassasoit Community College
Massachusetts Bay Community College
OccupationFreelance Court Reporter

Early life and education

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

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]

References
  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.


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