Former Fall River City Administrator announces campaign for Bristol County District Attorney

SWANSEA, MA – August 4, 2025 – Republican Seth Aitken of Swansea has announced his campaign for Bristol County District Attorney.

Aitken, who stated he is a seasoned prosecutor and defense attorney having lived and worked for the past 24 years in Bristol County, has issued the following statement.

“I’m running for Bristol County District Attorney because our residents have the right to feel safe where they live and work. That peace of mind can’t happen under the current District Attorney. His lack of leadership, transparency, and accountability has eroded the public trust, weakened the impact of law enforcement in Bristol County, and made our residents unsafe.”

“Over 97% of criminal cases begin and end in District Court, where the D.A. has assigned only twenty-five, mostly junior prosecutors to handle nearly 16,000 annual cases. Well-meaning young prosecutors are essentially being thrown to the wolves, understaffed and undertrained in some of the state’s busiest courts. That compromises safety.”

“My priority is transparent collaboration between law enforcement and prosecution, ensuring crime is met with immediate, professional responses and serious consequences. As a former Army officer, prosecutor, and city administrator, I offer strong leadership and a clear vision for public safety.”

“As D.A., I would be accessible to the public, and would require the same of my team. As District Attorney, I will provide better training, support, and resources for prosecutors. I will address public corruption, increase collaboration with law enforcement, and make our cities and towns safe for law-abiding citizens. We will make Bristol County an extremely unwelcome place for criminals.”

Attorney Aitken states that he is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts State and Federal District Courts. He is an active-duty Army veteran and former Assistant District Attorney. Aitken also served for several years as Fall River City Administrator. His law practice is based in Fall River, focusing primarily on criminal defense and consumer protection litigation in Bristol County courts.

According to the statement, Aitken has worked as a prosecutor in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, and Attleboro Courts, and has served as lead prosecutor in more than one hundred jury trials.

Prior to his legal career, Aitken served eight years as an Army Officer in construction and combat engineer units globally. He believes his military experience as a leader, mission planner, and problem-solver has uniquely prepared him to lead the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Aitken resigned as Fall River City Administrator in February after an unofficial internal investigation initiated by Mayor Paul Coogan’s office into allegations of a conflict of interest.

The probe focused on Aitken’s involvement in helping to incorporate a private EMS billing business, which raised concerns about potential violations of conflict-of-interest laws.

Aitken maintained that his actions were not improper but acknowledged the perceived conflict and chose to resign to avoid any distraction and to return to practicing law.