Fall River, MA – Fall River Mayor William Flanagan received a standing ovation from an excited crowd of supporters this morning after announcing that he will run for a second term.  More than 700 Fall River supporters attended Flanagan’s Annual Spring Breakfast at White’s, filling the Commonwealth Ballroom with energy and several sheets of nomination papers with signatures. 

“Two years ago we won this campaign because our opponents underestimated our great network of supporters,” Flanagan said to applause.  “They underestimated how effective our grassroots campaign would be.  And most of all, they underestimated Fall River.”

Flanagan highlighted his Fall River upbringing and the work ethic it instilled in him as the reason for the success of his first campaign and administration.  “I am a product of this city,” he said.  “I went to Fall River public schools.  I worked my way through high school and college at the local grocery store – In fact I may have even bagged your groceries.  We are all a part of this community, and we have all been working hard our whole lives.”   

In a short preview of the speech he is set to deliver at the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Flanagan noted his administration’s efforts to lay the groundwork for future economic success, and called on his supporters to help him renew the promise of Fall River.

“We recognize that the task at hand is not easy,” Flanagan concluded.  “It will take all of us to ensure that Fall River’s best days are ahead.” 

The full text of Mayor Flanagan's speech is below:

(As prepared for delivery)

Mayor Flanagan Stump Speech Draft April 27, 2011

Good morning, everyone.   

I’m Will Flanagan and I’m honored to announce that I am running for re-election as Mayor of Fall River.  

Two years ago we won this campaign because our opponents underestimated our great network of supporters.  They underestimated how effective our grassroots campaign would be.  And most of all, they underestimated Fall River.  Because I am a product of this city. 

I grew up here.  I went to Fall River public schools.  I worked my way through high school and college at the local grocery store – In fact I may have even bagged your groceries.  We are all a part of this community, and we have all been working hard our whole lives.  Nobody here was given anything in life.  We had to work for it.  We had to fight for it. 

I was elected in 2009 because we wanted change.  We wanted stronger schools, we wanted safer streets, and we wanted a more responsive city government.  But mostly we wanted a change in fortune.  We wanted more jobs, and new opportunities.  We wanted a more secure economic future, and one for our children.   

Since I took office, my administration has laid the groundwork needed for that change.  We stabilized the city’s bond rating to make it more attractive for long-term investment.  We finalized the long-awaited agreement with UMass Dartmouth to create a Fall River BioPark, and bring as many as 8,000 jobs to our city.  We landed TPI Composites back in Fall River, to help anchor our growing green jobs sector.  We fought to secure state and federal approval and funding for South Coast Rail.  We introduced a waterfront rezoning plan that will streamline investment and development along the Taunton River and Mount Hope Bay. We met with Tribal Leaders to discuss the potential for a resort casino in the city.  We partnered with Bristol Community College and UMass Dartmouth to expand workforce training programs.  And we have been working with state and federal leaders to identify new strategies for job creation.

Over the past eighteen months, we have taken great strides towards a better economic future.  But I recognize that all these positive steps are of little consolation to those who remain unemployed.   It’s no secret that Fall River has not yet shared in the recovery seen in other parts of the state.  But everything that happens in this city happens through the hard work and the determination of its amazing citizens.  

It’s part of what makes us unique.  In fact, it’s what I love about our city.  We want to make our lives here.  We want to make this city a success.  We want to renew the promise of a brighter future for Fall River that we were all raised with. We want to renew that promise for the single mother who sacrifices spending time with her children in order to work the double shift to pay the bills.  We want to renew that promise for the senior citizen who sacrifices buying her groceries in order to purchase her prescription drugs. We want to renew that promise for the unemployed workers who can’t pay their bills because they can’t find a job. We want to renew that promise of a brighter future so that every child in our public schools will graduate to a brighter future.

But we recognize that the task at hand is not easy.  It will take all of us to ensure that Fall River’s best days are ahead. 

I’m committed to serving as your Mayor, and I ask for your support.  

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